BANCROFT 
LIBRARY 

o 

THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 


SKETCHES 


ECCENTRICITIES 


COL.    DAVID    CROCKETT, 


OF    WEST    TENNESSEE 


«  Ridentem  dicere  verum,  quid  vetat  ?"— HOR. 


NEW     EDITION. 


NEW-YORK: 

PRINTED  AND  PUBLISHED  BY  J.  &  J.  HARPER, 

NO.   82    CLIFF-STREET, 

AND  SOLD  BY  THE   PRINCIPAL  BOOKSELLERS  THROUGHOUT  TH» 
UNITED    STATES. 

1833. 


,f  Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1833, 
by  J.  &  J.  Harper,  in  the  Office  of  the  Clerk  of  the 
Southern  District  of  New-Yo;.k.] 


PREFACE. 


So  fashionable  has  it  become  to  write  a  preface, 
that,  like  an  epitaph,  it  now  records  of  its  subject, 
not  what  it  is,  but  what  it  ought  to  be.  The  mania 
for  book-making  has  recently  assumed  an  epidemic 
character,  and,  like  the  late  pestilence,  unaffected 
by  all  changes  of  weather,  save  that  a  murky 
evening  generally  aggravates  its  symptoms,  it 
makes  its  attacks  from  quarters  the  least  expected, 
and  emanating  from  beneath  the  dim  light  of  some 
old  rusty  lamp,  sheds  abroad  its  sleepy,  yawning 
influence.  A  book  and  preface  are  now  consi- 
dered indissoluble  ;  so  much  so,  that  to  see  a  book 
without  a  preface  would  be  as  rare  as  to  see  a 
preface  without  a  book.  Yet  some  men  have 
been  so  lost  to  all  fashion,  as  to  send  forth  the 
treasures  of  genius  without  this  expected  formal- 
ity ;  but  as  I  do  not  aspire  to  that  elevated  niche 
in  the  temple  of  Fame,  which  such  men  have  been 
allowed  to  occupy  by  universal  consent,  I  must 


iV  PREFACE. 

permit  my  better  feelings  to  predominate,  and 
clothe  my  first-born  babe  in  all  suitable  garments, 
before  I  turn  her  loose  upon  a  heartless  world. 
Were  I  to  set  her  adrift  without  this  necessary 
appendage,  my  heart  would  smite  me  ;  and  I 
should  never  meet  a  poor  beggar,  thinly  clad, 
breasting  the  storms  of  winter,  but  that  with  sor- 
row I  should  think  of  the  destitute  condition  of  my 
pretty  bantling. 

Having  thus  resolved  upon  a  preface,  I  will 
write  as  long  as  my  humour  prompts,  or  until  the 
fit  under  which  I  am  now  labouring  wears  off. 

It  is  perfectly  ridiculous,  in  my  opinion,  for  a 
man  to  write  a  book,  which  he  believes  calculated 
to  interest,  instruct,  amuse,  or,  in  the  phrase  of  the 
trade,  to  take,  and  then  sit  down  and  write  an 
elaborate  apology  for  doing  so  :  nor  is  it  less  ab- 
surd to  ask  favour  from  the  hands  of  would-be- 
critics — self-constituted  judges  of  modern  days — 
whose  mere  dictum  creates  a  literary  vassalage 
— beneath  whose  blighting  influence,  the  finest 
specimens  of  genius,  when  linked  with  poverty, 
wither  and  die — and  whose  sole  duty  it  is  to  blazon 
forth  the  fame  of  some  one,  whom  public  opinion 
has  placed  above  them  ;  or,  to  puff  into  notice 
another,  who  has  money — not  mind-r-enough  to 


PREFACE.  V 

carry  him  along.  But,  as  regardless  of  this  class 
of  gentry  as  I  am  careful  of  my  own  comfort  and 
convenience,  I  have  really  laboured  under  the 
impression,  that,  in  writing  for  my  own  amuse- 
ment, I  had  a  right  to  select  my  topics  and  con- 
sequently I  have  been  grave  or  merry,  as  my 
humour  prompted. 

At  this  time,  when,  in  every  ephemeral  tale,  a 
red  hunter  must  be  treacherous,  brutal,  savage, 
and  accompanied  with  the  tomahawk  and  scalping 
knife,  I  should  perhaps  offer  some  apology  for 
speaking  of  them  in  a  different  light,  in  my  intro- 
duction ;  but  my  apology  is — it  was  my  pleasure 
to  do  so. 

Gentle  reader,  I  can  promise  you,  in  no  part 
of  this  volume,  the  wild  rhodomontades  of  "  Bush- 
field  ;"  nor  can  I  regale  you  with  the  still  more  deli- 
cate repast  of  a  constant  repetition  of  the  terms 
"bodyatiously?  "tetotaciously"  "obflisticated"  &c. 
Though  I  have  had  much  intercourse  with  the 
West,  I  have  never  met  with  a  man  who  used 
such  terms  unless  they  were  alluded  to,  as  merely 
occupying  a  space  in  some  printed  work.  They 
have,  however,  thus  been  made  to  enter,  as  a  com- 
ponent part,  into  the  character  of  every  back- 
woodsman ;  and,  perhaps,  I  hazard  something  in 


A3 


PREFACE. 


leaving  the  common  path  ;  but  my  duty  commands 
it  —  and  though  the  following  memoir  may  wear 
an  air  of  levity,  it  is,  nevertheless,  strictly  true. 
?  In  describing  backwoodsmen,  it  has  become 
customary  to  clothe  their  most  common  ideas  in 
high-sounding,  unintelligible  coinage  —  while  my 
observation  induces  me  to  believe  that  their  most 
striking  feature  is  the  fact,  that  they  clothe  the 
most  extravagant  ideas  in  the  simplest  language, 
and  amuse  us  by  their  quaintness  of  expression,  and 
originality  of  comparison.  With  these  remarks  I 
submit  to  you  the  SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES 
OF  COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT. 

I  know  there  are  those,  who  dwell  in  the  splen- 
did mansions  of  the  east,  and  whose  good  fortune 
enables  them  to  tread  a  Turkey  carpet,  or  loll 
upon  a  sofa,  to  whom  a  faithful  representation  of 
the  manners  and  customs  of  the  "far  off  West," 
will  afford  a  rich  repast  ;  and  there  is  another  class 
for  whom  this  volume  will  possess  many  charms, 
when  I  remark  that  it  entertains  for  the  "  blue  devils" 
the  most  deep  and  deadly  enmity.  And,  still  far- 
ther, the  learned,  though  they  may  see  little  to 
admire  in  the  composition  of  this  work,  may  yet 
find  amusement  in  the  peculiar  eccentricities  of  an 
original  mind  :  and  the  grave  philosopher,  also,  is 


PREFACE.  Vfi 

nere  presented  with  a  subject  of  deep  and  lasting 
meditation. 

Finally,  most  gentle  reader,  I  hereby  guaranty, 
that  there  shall  not  be  found,  in  the  volume  before 
you,  a  single  sentence,  or  a  single  word,  calcu- 
ated  to  crimson  the  cheek  of  innocence,  or  give 
a  license  to  vice. 


INTRODUCTION. 


IN  giving  to  the  public  the  biography  of  a  cele- 
brated backwoodsman,  a  brief  sketch  of  the  coun- 
try in  which  he  resides  will  not  be  deemed  irrele- 
vant. I  am  aware  that  much  has  been  written 
upon  this  subject ;  but  it  is  a  theme  so  fruitful  in 
variety,  that  I  hope,  if  I  shall  not  be  able  to  in- 
struct, I  shall  at  least  entertain.  The  term  "  far 
oft' West"  seems,  from  general  usage,  to  apply  only 
to  that  section  of  our  country  which  lies  between 
the  Alleghany  and  Rocky  mountains.  In  compa- 
rison with  this  vast  region,  other  portions  of  the 
globe,  which  have  delighted  the  world  with  the 
finest  specimens  of  history,  of  j  sculpture, 

and  of  painting,  dwindle  into  insignificance  with 
regard  to  magnitude.  Here  Fan^y,  in  her  playful 
flights,  may  call  into  being  empires  which  have  no 
existence  ;  and  though  perhaps  sober  reason  would 
now  chide  her  fairy  creations,  yet  the  time  will 
come,  when  they  will  only  be  looked  upon  with 
the  conviction  of  truth. 

Oft,  while  seated  upon  the  margin  of  the  Missis- 
sippi river — the  greatest  curiosity  on  our  globe — 


10  INTRODUCTION. 

have  I  indulged  in  thought,  until  my  brain  reeled 
with  the  multitude  of  images  which  crowded  upon 
it.  When  I  reflected  on  the  vast  region  comprised 
in  the  phrase  "  far  off  West" — when  I  recollected 
that  all  the  water  which  fell  and  accumulated  be- 
tween the  Alleghany  on  the  east,  and  the  Rocky 
mountains  on  the  west,  (a  section  of  country  thou- 
sands of  miles  in  extent,)  sought,  by  the  same 
•outlet,  its  passage  to  the  ocean — and  when  I  be- 
held at  my  feet,  that  passage,  in  a  narrow  muddy 
stream,  winding  smoothly  along,  I  was  struck  with 
astonishment.  I  thought  it  ought  to  boil,  and  dash, 
and  foam,  and  fret  its  way,  in  hurried  search  of 
the  ocean.  Although  the  Mississippi  receives 
tributaries  which  are  navigable  for  several  thou- 
sand miles,  yet  its  size  is  not  at  all  apparently 
increased.  Irregular,  though  smooth,  it  forces  its 
circuitous  way  along — yet  restless,  and  ever  chang- 
ing its  bed,  as  if  to  relieve  itself  from  the  accumu- 
lating weight  of  waters.  Frequently  does  it  nar- 
row itself  to  within  less  than  a  quarter  of  a  mile. 
Then  how  incalculable  must  be  its  depth !  There 
are  some  portions  of  it  very  shallow ;  but  there 
are  others,  where  no  bottom  has  ever  yet  been 
found ;  and  could  its  waters  be  drained  off,  there 
would  be  left  chasms  into  which  the  boldest  would 
never  dare  look  ;  and  in  whose  depths  myriads  of 
animals  would  crawl  and  flutter,  which  have  never 
yet  known  the  light  of  day  ! 

The  "  far  off  West"  spreads  before  us  every 


J  ^         INTRODUCTION.  1 3 

variety  of  climate — every  species  of  soil.  One 
would  be  more  disposed  to  look  upon  it  as  a  crea- 
tion of  fancy,  than  as  possessing  an  actual  exist- 
ence. Here,  roam  and  play  their  sportive  tricks* 
over  verdant  fields,  innumerable  animals,  whose 
feet  are  crimsoned  with  fruit,  which  the  gods 
themselves  would  eat.  Here,  roving  over  our 
prairies,  the  weary  hunter  may  repose  on  beds  of 
flowers  which  give  the  blush  to  all  the  enchant- 
ment of  city  gardens.  Here,  while  I  am  now 
writing,  apart  from  the  busy  hum  of  men,  how  the 
events  of  a  few  years  rise  up  before  me  !  The 
Past  and  Present  both  present  themselves,  and 
seek  to  gain  my  preference.  The  Past  tells  me 
that  here,  but  a  few  years  since,  nature  slept  in 
primeval  loveliness  :  her  forests  had  never  echoed 
to  the  sound  of  an  axe  ;  her  rivers  had  never  been 
disturbed  by  the  noise  of  a  steamboat ;  there  was 
nothing  to  break  in  upon  the  stillness  of  evening; 
save  the  loud  whoop  of  her  children,  the  long 
howl  of  some  hungry  wolf,  the  wild  scream  of  a 
famished  panther,  or  the  plaintive  notes  of  some 
gentle  turtle,  weeping  for  one  that's  far  away. 
"  Yes,"  cried  she,  "  here  roamed  my  red  men  of 
the  forest,  free  as  the  breezes  which  fanned  their 
raven  locks.  Here,  no  bickerings  disturbed  their 
social  intercourse — no  right  of  property  shed  hs 
baleful  influence  over  their  wild  society — no  white 
man  was  here  to  practise  them  in  all  the  wiles  of 
deception : — No — there  was  none.  Here  my  young 


2  ,          INTRODUCTION. 

daughters  of  the  forest  have  led  on  the  mazy  dance 
—here,  have  luxuriated  in  all  the  delightful  emo- 
tions of  innocent  love.  Here,  some  Indian  war- 
rior may  have  wooed  his  dusky  bride.  My  heart 
grows  sick  when  I  think  of  all  that  was  lovely 
which  has  left  me." 

"But,"  cries  the  Present, "the  scene  that  I  could 
sketch  is  still  more  beautiful.  Though  no  long 
howl  of  the  wolf  now  announces  evening;  though 
no  famished  panther  wakes  you  at  midnight — yet 
the  repose  of  nature  is  now  broken  by  music  far 
more  delightful.  The  noise  of  children  just  burst- 
ing out  from  school — the  cheerful  song  of  the  milk- 
maid, as  she  performs  her  evening  duties — or  the 
loud  crack  of  some  driver,  as  he  forces  his  weary 
oxen  to  their  stalls,  now  tells  us  of  the  close  of  day. 
Once,  only  a  canoe  danced  lightly  over  your  wa- 
ters: now,  floating  palaces  adorn  them,  which 
realize  all  the  gorgeous  tales  of  eastern  fancy,  and 
with  all  their  beauty  blend  the  power  of  the  magic 
carpet — 

*  Walk  your  waters  like  things  of  life, 
And  seem  to  dare  the  elements  to  strife.' " 

The  West  presents  much  variety.  Some  of 
our  cities,  in  beauty  and  in  all  the  fascinations  of  a 
polished  society,  vie  with  those  of  the  East;  while 
there  are  many  portions  where  the  wildness  of 
nature  and  the  first  rudiments  of  society  are  strug- 
gling for  the  ascendency  ;  and  there  are  still  many 
more,  where  nature  yet  reposes  in  her  loveliest 


INTRODUCTION  13 

form.  The  whole  country  spreads  before  us  a 
field  for  speculation,  only  bounded  by  the  limits  of 
the  human  mind. 

Every  spot  shows  that  it  was  once  the  abode 
of  human  beings,  who  are  now  lounging  idly  about 
in  the  vale  of  eternity — not  so  small  as  the  de- 
generate race  of  modern  days,  but  majestic  in 
size,  and  capable,  according  to  scripture  command, 
of  managing  the  various  species  of  the  mammoth 
tribe — even  those  that  were  Hpniverous,*  whose 
ravenous  appetite  has  clearly  accounted  for  the 
want  of  timber  on  our  great  western  prairies,  and 
whose  saliva,  according  to  the  MS.  of  a  celebrated 
travelling  antiquarian  and  great  linguist,*  (which 
subsequent  annotators  seem  to  have  overlooked) 
was  of  so  subtle  yet  deadly  a  nature,  that  when 
applied  to  a  tree,  it  immediately  diffused  itself 
throughout  its  roots,  and  killed,  for  all  future  ages, 
the  power  to  germinate. 

We  must  ever  regret  that  the  same  ingenious 
traveller  did  not  inform  us  of  their  mode  of  eating 
this  timber ;  as  henceforward  it  must  be  a  matter 
of  doubt.  Was  it  corded  up  like  steamboat  wood, 
and  in  that  manner  devoured  ?  Or  did  this  ani- 
mal, after  the  manner  of  the  anaconda,  render  its 
food  slippery  by  means  of  saliva,  and  swallow  it 
whole  ?  If  this  latter  be  the  case,  I  am  struck 

*  An  Essay  of  much  ingenuity  and  fancy,  published  in  the 
West,  accounts  for  the  present  existence  of  the  prairies,  by 
supposing  the  timber  to  have  been  all  devoured  by  an  animal 
of  the  mammoth,  tnbe  1 


14  INTRODUCTION. 

with  the  analogy  which  this  animal  bears  to  the 
subject  of  my  biography — for  as  my  hero  is  the 
only  person  who  could  ever  slip  down  a  honey- 
locust  without  a  scratch,  so  I  presume  that  this  is 
the  only  animal  which  has  ever  swallowed  a  tree 
of  the  same  species,  and  received  no  inconve- 
nience from  its  thorns.  But  believing,  as  I  do 
implicitly,  that  man  was  placed  at  the  head  of 
affairs  in  this  lower  world,  I  have  no  doubt  that 
the  time  has  been,  when  men  were  so  much  larger 
than  they  now  are,  that  a  mammoth  was  swung 
up  and  butchered  with  the  same  ease  that  we 
would  now  butcher  a  sheep;  and  it  requires  no 
great  stretch  of  imagination  to  conceive  a  gentle- 
man of  that  day,  after  the  manner  of  the  French 
epicure  in  America,  (who,  having  despatched  a 
pig,  asked  the  waiter  if  there  were  no  more  leetle 
hogs,)  crying  out  "  wataire !  have  you  no  more 
leetle  mammoths  V9 

The  multitude  of  tumuli,  or  Indian  mounds, 
which  every  where  present  themselves,  alone 
form  a  subject  for  deep  meditation.  The  idea  that 
they  were  used  solely  for  burying  places  seems 
to  me  absurd,  and  were  it  now  proper.  I  could 
adduce  many  arguments  to  the  contrary.  These 
tumuli,  however,  are  found  in  all  situations,  of 
various  heights,  and  different  sizes;  sometimes 
insulated,  at  others  linked  together  for  an  indefi- 
nite distance.  In  Arkansas  and  Missouri,  you 
frequently  meet  with  chains  of  these  mounds: 


INTRODUCTION.  15 

east  of  the  Mississippi,  they  are  generally  insulated, 
and  now  remain  but  as  a  memento  of  what  once 
was.  Sometimes  they  are  surrounded  by  a  ditch, 
now  almost  effaced  from  the  decay  of  vegetable 
matter,  which  gives  them  the  appearance  of  works 
thrown  up  for  defence.  But,  for  what  they  were 
intended — when  they  were  built — what  was  their 
height — are  all  questions  which  cannot  be  an- 
swered. Tradition  has  never  dared  affix  a  date 
to  any  of  them  ;  nor  can  any  Indian  tribe  now  in 
existence  give  any  clew  which  will  enable  us  to 
solve  the  mystery.  Large  trees  growing  on  their 
tops  have  been  felled,  and  their  ages  counted ;  and 
though  some  of  them  would  reckon  years  enough 
to  be  looked  upon  as  the  patriarchs  of  the  forest, 
yet  that  gives  no  direct  clew — for,  how  long  the 
mounds  were  in  existence  before  the  trees  grew 
up,  we  cannot  tell. 

In  many  places  bones  of  the  Aborigines  yet 
whiten  the  soil :  sometimes  you  meet  with  them 
so  deposited  as  to  leave  little  doubt  that  the  last 
honours  of  war  were  once  performed  over  them. 
How  often,  while  travelling  alone  through  our 
western  forest,  have  I  turned  my  horse  loose  to 
graze,  and  lolling  upon  one  of  those  mounds  in- 
dulged in  meditation.  Fancying  it  a  depository 
for  the  dead,  I  have  called  before  me  all  its  inmates ; 
and  they  rose  up  of  every  grade  from  hoary  age 
to  infancy.  There  stood  the  chief  of  his  tribe, 
with  wisdom  painted  in  his  furrowed  cheeks  ;  near 


16  INTRODUCTION. 

him  a  warrior,  in  all  the  bloom  of  youth.  There 
stood  one,  who,  with  all  the  burning  fervour  of 
eloquence,  had  incited  his  tribe  to  warlike  deeds; 
near  him  a  blushing  daughter  of  the  forest,  cut  off 
while  her  beauties  were  just  opening  into  day. 
And,  to  extend  the  picture,  and  view  the  wide 
expanse  of  the  mighty  West,  methinks  there  rose 
up  before  me  warriors  of  the  forest,  whose  fame 
was  once  as  fair  as  is  now  that  of  Hannibal  or 
Caesar,  Napoleon  or  Wellington.  Yes,  methinks, 
they  each  had  a  Cannae  or  a  Pharsalia,  an  Auster- 
litz  or  a  Waterloo.*  Yes,  how  often  here,  have  I 
wandered  over  fields  which,  perhaps,  were  once 
hallowed  by  the  sacred  blood  of  freedom,  or  which 
have  been  consecrated  by  deeds  of  high  and  lofty 
daring.  Could  the  "  far  off  West"  give  up  its  his- 
tory, the  chivalry  of  darker  ages  would  have  no 
votaries.  But  even  the  last  remnant  of  this  once 
great  people  is  fast  disappearing  from  the  country. 
A  few  years  more  and  not  one  will  remain  to  tell 
what  they  once  were.  Thousands  of  them  are  at 
this  time  marching  far  "  over  the  border."  To 
see  such  a  multitude  of  all  ages,  forced  from  a 
country  which  they  have  been  taught  to  love  as 
their  "  own  native  land" — to  hear  their  wild  lamen- 
tations at  leaving  the  bones  of  all  who  were  dear 
to  them,  to  wander  over  a  region  which  has  for 

*  Those  who  take  an  interest  in  the  history  of  the  Indian 
warriors  and  other  great  men,  will  find  Thatcher's  "  Indian 
Biography"  and  "Indian  Traits,"  worthy  of  perusal. 


INTRODUCTION.  17 

them  no  tender  recollections,  touches  all  the  finest 
chords  of  the  human  heart.  Feelings  of  sympathy 
will  ever  kindle  at  the  recollection  of  the  fate  of 
the  Indians,  whose  history,  at  some  future  day, 
may  be  read  in  the  following  brief  epitaph : 

"  Alas !  poor  Yorick I" 

Throughout  the  west  innumerable  prairies 
abound,  (covered  with  every  flower  which  can 
delight  the  senses,)  either  rolling  like  the  gentle 
hcavings  of  the  ocean,  or  level  as  the  surface  of 
an  unruffled  lake.  These  form  another  subject 
of  fruitful  meditation ;  at  least  with  those  (if  any 
should  be  found)  who  doubt  the  existence  of  the 
Tree-eater.  What  has  caused  them  ?  Why  do 
you  meet  with  them  of  all  sizes,  (the  richest  land 
we  have,)  without  a  shrub,  surrounded  by  dense 
forests?  Why,  as  soon  as  the  whites  begin  to 
graze  them,  do  they  spring  up  in  a  thick  under- 
growth, when  it  they  do  not  graze  them,  they 
retain  their  former  appearance  ?  Have  they  not 
been  cultivated?  Were  they  not  plantations? 
And  were  not  the  inhabitants  who  once  resided 
here,  entirely  destroyed  by  the  Indian  tribes  who 
took  possession  ?  Is  not  their  present  appearance 
owing  to  the  fact  that  the  Indians  have  burned 
them  regularly  since  they  were  cultivated,  in 
order  to  preserve  them  as  pastures  for  their  game  ? 
I  am  aware  that  some  of  the  prairies,  from  their 
great  size,  would  seem  at  once  to  put  an  end  to 

B2 


18  INTRODUCTION. 

these  speculations.  But,  on  the  other  hand,  there 
are  many  proofs  of  the  great  antiquity  of  our  coun- 
try, and  many  convincing  arguments  that  its  former 
proprietors  were  much  farther  advanced  in  civili- 
zation than  the  present  natives.  In  support  of 
this  position  I  will  simply  refer  to  3  circumstance 
generally  known,  that  in  digging  a  well  near  Cin- 
cinnati, two  stumps  were  found  some  sixty  or 
seventy  feet  below  the  surface,  which  had  been 
cut  off  by  an  axe,  and  upon  one  of  which  the  re- 
mains of  an  axe  were  found.  Further,  to  prove 
that  its  former  proprietors  were  somewhat  en- 
lightened, I  would  remark  that  in  digging  a  salt 
well  at  one  of  the  licks  near  Shawneetown,  Illi- 
nois, an  octangular  post  was  discovered  some 
twenty  feet  below  the  surface,  bored  through  pre- 
cisely similar  to  that  now  used  for  a  pump.  Also, 
in  the  same  state,  a  large  rectangular  smooth 
stone  was  found,  covered  with  regular  hierogly- 
phical  characters.  Coins,  brick,  and  forts,  the 
results  of  a  certain  degree  of  civilization,  have 
been  every  where  found. 

That  there  were  many  prairies  once  in  cultiva- 
tion, many  ingenious  arguments  may  be  brought 
to  prove.  These  views  are  given,  merely  with  a 
hope  that  they  may  induce  an  examination  into 
this  subject.  I  have  already  entered  farther  into 
speculation  than  the  nature  of  this  work  demands, 
and  shall  be  gratified  if  my  suggestions  call  into 
action  talents  more  suited  to  the  task. 


INTRODUCTION.  19 

The  country  which  I  have  but  slightly  sketched, 
in  its  wildest  state  was  the  home  of  BOONE,  the 
great  pioneer  of  the  west,  who  now  lives  in  sculp- 
ture in  the  rotunda  of  your  capitol.  In  a  frontier, 
and  consequently  less  attractive  state,  it  is  now 
the  home  of  DAVID  CROCKETT,  whose  humours 
have  been  spoken  of  in  every  portion  of  our  coun- 
try, and  about  whom  there  is  less  known  than  of 
any  other  individual  who  ever  obtained  so  much 
notoriety.  I  intend  no  regular  comparison  between 
these  two  personages,  for  each  will  live  while  the 
"  far  off  West"  has  a  votary ;  but  I  must  run  a 
parallel  only  for  an  instant.  Each  lived  under 
the  same  circumstances :  the  one  waged  an  eter- 
nal war  with  the  Indians,  and  hunted  game  for 
recreation :  the  other  waged  an  eternal  war  with 
the  beasts  of  the  forest,  and  served  his  country 
when  his  aid  was  wanted.  Each  could  send  the 
whizzing  ball  almost  where  he  wished  it.  Mr. 
Knapp,  in  a  beautiful  sketch  which  he  has  given  the 
world  of  Boone,  mentions  that  frequently,  to  try 
his  skill,  "  he  shot  with  a  single  ball  the  humming 
bird,  as  he  sucked  the  opening  flower,  and  spread 
his  tiny  wings  and  presented  his  exquisite  colours 
to  the  sun ;  and  brought  down  the  soaring  eagle 
as  he  poised  in  majesty  over  his  head,  disdaining 
the  power  of  this  nether  world."  I  cannot  say 
that  Col.  Crockett  has  ever  performed  either  of  the 
above  feats,  but  often  have  I  seen  him  seated  on 
the  margin  of  a  river,  shooting  with  a  single  ball 


20  INTRODUCTION. 

its  sealy  inmates,  when  only  for  an  instant  in  wan- 
ton sport  they  glittered  in  the  sun :  the  rifle 
cracked,  and  ever  was  there  some  little  monster 
struggling  on  the  top.  The  task  of  William  Tell 
would  give  no  pain ;  for  in  idle  sport  does  he 
sometimes  shoot  a  dollar  from  between  the  finger 
and  thumb  of  a  brother,  or  plant  his  balls  between 
his  fingers  as  pleasure  suits.  In  point  of  mind, 
Col.  Crockett  is  decidedly  Boone's  superior.  I  do 
not  found  this  remark  on  the  authority  of  the  com- 
mon sketches  of  the  day,  which  are  little  better 
than  mere  vagaries  of  the  imagination,  but  gather 
my  information  from  a  gentleman  who  now  knows 
Col.  Crockett,  and  who,  with  Boone  for  a  compan- 
ion, has  often  hunted  the  buffalo  on  the  plains  of 
Kentucky. 

The  country  which  it  falls  to  my  lot  most  par- 
ticularly to  describe,  is  the  western  district  of 
Tennessee  ;  and  of  that,  to  me,  the  most  interest- 
ing spot,  was  Col.  Crockett's  residence.  There, 
far  retired  from  the  bustle  of  the  world,  he  lives, 
and  chews,  for  amusement,  the  cud  of  his  political 
life.  He  has  settled  himself  over  the  grave  of  an 
earthquake,  which  often  reminds  him  of  the  cir- 
cumstance by  moving  itself  as  if  tired  of  confine- 
ment. The  wild  face  of  the  country — the  wide 
chasms — the  new  formed  lakes,  together  with  its 
great  loneliness,  render  it  interesting  in  the  ex- 
treme to  the  traveller.  But  above  all,  the  simpli- 
city and  great  hospitality  of  its  thinly  scattered 


INTRODUCTION.  21 

inhabitants,  make  one  turn  to  it  with  pleasure  who 
nas  ever  visited  it.  The  many  stories  in  circula- 
tion of  deadly  struggles  with  wild  animals,  and 
the  great  distance  sometimes  found  between  set- 
tlements, create  in  this  country  much  interest  for 
the  traveller ;  but  for  a  more  particular  history 
of  these  things  I  refer  you,  gentle  reader,  to  the 
Allowing  pages. 


SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES 
OP 

COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT. 


CHAPTER  I 

DAVID  CROCKETT,  the  subject  of  the  following 
sketch,  was  born  in  Greene  county,  East  Ten- 
nessee, of  poor  and  respectable  parentage.  He 
was  the  ninth  child.  The  extreme  indigence  of  his 
father  rendered  him  unable  to  educate  his  children, 
and  at  a  very  early  age  David  was  put  to  work. 
No  one,  at  this  early  age,  could  have  foretold  that 
he  was  ever  to  ride  upon  a  streak  of  lightning, 
receive  a  commission  to  quiet  the  fears  of  the 
world,  by  wringing  off  the  tail  of  a  comet,  or  per- 
form several  other  wonderful  acts,  for  which  he 
has  received  due  credit,  and  which  will  serve  to 
give  him  a  reputation  as  lasting  as  that  of  the  hero 
of  Orleans.  But  he  was  always  a  quirky  boy,  and 
many  and  sage  were  the  prophecies  made  of  his 
future  greatness.  Every  species  of  fortune-telling 
was  exhausted  to  find  out  in  what  particular  de- 
partment he  was  to  figure  ;  but  this  was  for  ever 
shrouded  in  mystery.  No  seer  could  say  more 
than  that  David  was  to  be  great.  In  the  slang  of 


24      SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

the  backwoods,  one  swore  that  he  would  never  be 
"  one-eyecF — that  is  dishonest ;  another,  that  he 
would  never  be  "«  case" — that  is  flat,  without  a 
dollar.  But  let  us  pursue  an  even  narrative  of 
his  life,  and  see  how  far  these  various  prophecies 
proved  to  be  correct. 

While  David  was  yet  young,  his  father  moved 
from  Greene  to  Sullivan  county,  and  settled  upon 
a  public  road  for  the  purpose  of  keeping  a  tavern. 
David's  duty  here  was  to  wait  about  the  house 
and  stable,  and  the  labour  devolving  on  him  was 
already  too  great  for  a  boy  of  his  years.  Spending 
his  time  in  this  way,  he  remained  at  home  until 
he  reached  his  twelfth  year,  when  he  became  ac- 
quainted with  a  Dutchman  who  resided  about  four 
hundred  miles  distant,  and  who  was  in  the  habit 
of  regularly  driving  cattle  to  the  western  part  of 
Virginia.  To  this  man  was  David  hired  by  his 
father,  and  at  the  early  age  of  twelve  years,  en- 
tirely uneducated,  he  bade  adieu  to  home,  and,  in 
the  backwoods  phrase,  began  to  knock  about.  But 
a  few  days  elapsed  after  the  contract  was  made, 
before  the  old  Dutchman,  having  bought  up  his 
cattle,  was  ready  for  the  journey.  After  an  agreea- 
ble though  laborious  trip  they  arrived  at  their 
place  of  destination.  David  wras  treated  with 
much  kindness,  and  many  efforts  were  made  to 
wean  him  from  a  too  great  fondness  for  his  pa- 
rents. His  activity  and  general  acquaintance  with 
business,  for  a  boy  of  his  years,  made  him  a  valua- 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.          25 

ble  assistant  to  the  old  Dutchman,  \vho  was 
anxious  to  retain  him.  But  the  menial  offices 
which  it  soon  fell  to  his  lot  to  discharge,  rendered 
him  unhappy  and  dissatisfied;  and  after  remaining 
five  or  six  months,  he  asked  permission  to  return 
home,  which  was  denied  him.  He  immediately 
formed  a  resolution  to  do  so  at  all  hazards. 

While  playing  in  the  road  on  Sunday  evening 
after  his  resolution  was  formed,  he  met  with  an 
opportunity  of  carrying  it  into  effect.  Many 
wagons  passed,  and  with  them  he  recognised  a 
wagoner  whom  he  had  frequently  seen,  and  who 
was  then  on  a  journey  to  his  father's.  David  soon 
told  him  of  his  situation,  and  his  desire  to  get  home, 
and  received  from  his  new  friend  a  promise  of 
protection,  provided  he  would  go  along  with  him. 
This  David  readily  agreed  to ;  and  not  being  able 
to  leave  at  that  time,  he  found  out  where  the 
wagons  would  encamp  that  night,  and  promised, 
after  getting  his  clothes,  to  overtake  them. 

He  then  returned  to  the  house,  succeeded  in 
bundling  up  his  little  all,  and  having  conveyed  it 
to  the  stable  unsuspected,  went  about  his  regular 
business.  At  supper  he  was  even  treated  with 
more  than  usual  kindness,  which  caused  him  to 
regret  the  step  he  was  about  to  take ;  but  his  re- 
solution  was  fixed.  David  with  the  rest  of  the 
family  retired  to  bed  as  usual.  He  soon  fell  inta 
a  light  sleep,  from  which  he  awoke  about  two 
o'clock,  aroso,  dressed,  and  gently  opening  the 
c 


^  SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

door,  left  the  house.  After  getting  out,  he  found 
it  extremely  cold  and  snowing,  with  several 
indies  of  snow  already  upon  the  ground.  His  re- 
solution for  a  moment  faltered ;  but  he  resolved  to 
g®  on.  Groping  his  way  to  the  stable,  he  obtained 
liis  bundle,  and  soon  was  in  the  public  road  on  his 
way  to  the  camp -of  the  wagoners.  The  place  ap- 
ipolii'ted  for  their  meeting  was  distant  about  seven 
miles.  The  snow  was  now  falling  fast,  and  driv- 
.  ing  -in  his  face  ;  the  excessive  darkness  of  the  night 
much  impeded  his  progress,  and  he  was  only  ena- 
Ked  to  get  along  by  avoiding  the  woods  on  either 
;side,  and  pursuing,  by  feeling  with  his  feet,  the 
smooth  track  of  the  road  before  him.  The  desire 
4df  reaching  home,  or  rather  the  fear  of  being  over- 
taken by  his  master,  produced  the  excitement 
which  alone  enabled  him  to  accomplish  his  purpose. 
The  shades  of  night  were  giving  place  to  the 
dark  gray  light  of  morning  when  David  came  in 
sight  of  the  wagons.  His  friend  was  already  stir- 
ring, and  believed  rather  that  an  apparition  had 
presented  itself  than  that  his  young  acquaintance 
was  before  him.  However,  he  received  him  with 
much  kindness,  and  paid  him  that  attention  "which 
liis  situation  deserved — making  him  drink  whiskey 
freely,  and  by  degrees  thawing  his  frozen  limbs. 
He  also  quieted  his  fears  about  being  overtaken 
by  his  master,  promised  him  protection,  and  con- 
vinced him  from  the  fact  that  the  snow  was  still 
felling,  that  no  trace  could  be  left  of  his  escape, 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.          27 

the  prints  of  his  feet  being  filled  up  almost  as  fast 
as  created.  This  adventure  was  quite  an  under- 
taking for  a  boy  so  young ;  and  one  would  be 
disposed  to  look  upon  it  merely  as  a  premonitory 
symptom  of  similar  adventures  in  after  life.  He 
soon  became  a  favourite  with  the  wagoners,  spent 
his  time  pleasantly,  and  arrived  in  safety  at  his 
father's,  whom  he  satisfied  for  having  left  his  first 
master. 

Here  for  a  year  or  two  he  remained,  perform- 
ing the  drudgery  in  and  about  his  father's  premises 
— a  situation  ill  calculated  to  improve  his  mind  or 
inspire  correct  morals.  His  ideas  seem  to  have 
run  far  ahead  of  his  years,  and  he  appeared  as 
if  out  of  the  sphere  for  which  he  was  intended. 
With  an  ardent  desire  to  be  sent  to  school,  he  was 
admonished  by  his  father's  poverty  that  it  was 
entirely  impracticable.  So,  becoming  dissatisfied 
with  the  tedious  monotony  ol  his  life,  he  neglected 
his  business,  and  his  father  resolved  again  to  hire 
him  out,  and  accordingly  did  so  to  a  cattle  mer- 
chant, who  was  about  to  set  out  for  western 
Virginia. 

During  this  trip  he  suffered  much,  was  very 
badly  treated,  and  having  arrived  at  the  end  of 
his  journey  was  dismissed,  though  several  hun- 
dred miles  from  home,  by  his  employer,  who  gave 
him  only  the  sum  of  three  dollars  to  pay  ex- 
penses. David  insisted  it  was  not  enough ;  but  he 
could  get  no  more ;  and  meeting  with  a  young 


28  SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

acquaintance  who  had  been  engaged  in  the  same 
employment,  with  one  horse  between  them  they 
set  out  upon  their  return.  This  trip  served  to 
convince  him  that  cattle  driving  was  not  exactly 
"the  thing ;"  and  if  his  earlier  associations  could 
have  had  any  influence  upon  his  after  life,  he 
would  certainly  either  have  become  a  grazier,  or 
have  laboured  for  ever  under  an  insuperable  an- 
tipathy for  beef. 

It  will  be  seen  from  a  perusal  of  the  following 
pages,  that  David  was  ever  a  mere  sport  for  for- 
tune. She  was  not  always  unkind  to  him,  but 
tricky ;  rather  sportive  than  otherwise :  so  that  his 
starting  to  a  place  was  no  proof  that  he  would 
ever  reach  it.  He  was  almost  sure  to  diverge, 
and  in  his  wanderings  appears  to  have  been  go- 
verned by  the  principle,  that  there  was'  more 
beauty  in  a  curve  than  in  a  straight  line. 

David,  with  his  companion,  trudged  along  seve- 
ral days,  when  the  latter,  being  the  larger,  in- 
sisted upon  his  privilege  to  ride  exclusively,  which 
so  much  offended  David  that,  meeting  with  a  wa- 
gon going  in  a  counter  direction  to  his  home,  he 
bade  adieu  to  his  late  comrade  and  took  a  pas- 
sage. Upon  enquiry  he  found  out  that  the  wagon 
was  bound  for  Alexandria,  D.  C.  So,  not  caring 
whither  he  went,  he  entered  into  a  contract  to 
accompany  it  as  a  wagon  boy.  He  visited  Alex- 
andria, and  then  determined  to  return  with  the 
wagon  home.  After  having  travelled  for  several 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.         29 

days,  liis  friend,  the  wagoner,  entered  into  an  en- 
gagement to  do  some  hauling  in  the  neighbour- 
hood, and  David,  in  the  interim,  hired  himself  to 
a  farmer  as  a  ploughboy.  In  this  situation  he 
remained  until  he  had  accumulated  the  sum  of 
•eleven  dollars ;  when,  meeting  with  a  wagon 
bound  for  Baltimore,  he  resolved  to  go  along  with 
it.  With  the  driver  he  deposited  his  money  for 
safe  keeping,  and  entered  into  an  agreement  upon 
small  wages.  Arriving  in  the  suburbs  of  the  city, 
some  accident  happened  which  delayed  the  farther 
progress  of  the  wagon.  The  time  ncce*;ary  for 
repairing  gave  David  some  leisure.  High  with 
hope,  the  whole  world  as  he  imagined  spread 
before  him,  down  the  streets  of  Baltimore  he 
strolled  until  his  faculties  became  confused  with 
the  "sights"  he  saw,  and  he  stood  gazing  for  the 
first  time  at  a  ship  lying  alongside  of  the  wharf, 
with  a  part  of  her  canvass  floating  loosely  in  the 
vind.  Some  of  the  crew  observing  the  admira- 
tion with  which  he  gazed  on  the  rigging  and  on 
every  part  of  the  ship,  asked  him  familiarly  if  he 
would  not  take  a  passage  in  her  for  Liverpool, 
the  port  for  which  she  was  bound.  But  a  few 
moments  elapsed  before  he  was  employed  as  a 
common  sailor,  to  set  out  upon  a  voyage  of  three 
thousand  miles,  who  perhaps  an  hour  before  was 
not  aware  that  there  was  such  a  thing  as  a  sea  or 
a  ship  in  existence.  The  ship  was  to  sail  that 
evening,  and  with  a  promise  that  he  would  return 

C  2 


30      SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

so  soon  as  he  could  gather  his  clothes,  David 
sought  his  wagon.  With  his  ideas  of  the  world 
much  enlarged  from  having  seen  Baltimore,  and 
the  fact  that  this  ship  was  to  take  so  long  a  voyage, 
and  with  a  boundless  prospect  for  adventure  be- 
fore him,  light  hearted  and  happy  he  danced  his 
way  back.  Occasionally  his  golden  visions  were 
clouded  by  the  probability  that  the  wagoner  would 
not  permit  him  to  go ;  but  this  was  not  calculated 
to  have  much  effect  upon  a  mind  sanguine  in  its 
own  resources.  Presenting  himself  before  the 
wagoner,  he  asked  him  for  the  money  he  had  de- 
posited with  him  for  safe  keeping,  and  also  told 
him  of  his  intention  to  go  to  Liverpool.  The 
wagoner  positively  refused,  and  threatened  him 
severely  should  he  dare  to  leave.  However, 
David  taking  advantage  of  his  momentary  ab- 
sence, bundled  up  his  clothes  and  started  for  the 
ship.  But  as  fate  would  have  it,  in  strolling  along 
a  crowded  street,  whom  should  he  run  full  tilt 
against  but  his  friend  the  wagoner. 

Thus  did  fortune  force  David  Crockett  to  figure 
in  other  places  than  the  crowded  streets  of  Liver- 
pool. But  for  this  slight  mishap  the  Western 
District  could  now  have  boasted  of  no  hero.  In  a 
common  scrape  no  one  would  have  said,  "  Now 
the  way  he  fights  is' a  sin  to  Crockett" — and  when 
any  thing  wonderful  happened,  "  Now  I  tell  you 
what,  it  is  nothing  to  Crockett."  However,  the 
day  after  this  adventure,  David  was  on  the  public 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETTr         £1 

road,  bound  for  home ;  but  dissatisfied  and  bhife- 
bering  along  after  the  wagon  demanding  his  mo- 
ney. A  stranger  met  them,  and  finding  out  from 
David  the  cause  of  his  distress,  threatened  the 
wagoner  with  an  immediate  whipping  unless  }\x 
would  refund  the  money.  This  he  was  unaUPfct* 
do,  having  previously  spent  it ;  so  that  David,  col- 
lecting his  clothes,  bade  adieu  to  the  wagon  with- 
out a.  cent,  and  again  began  to  Jmock  about.  He 
stopped  at  the  first  house  he  reached,  where  he 
was  employed  as  a  common  labourer.  Here  he 
remained  until  he  had  accumulated  a  small  sum. 
He  then  again  started  for  home ;  but  getting  out 
of  money  in  the  western  part  of  Virginia,  he  was 
forced  to  work.  His  necessities  induced  him  to 
hire  himself  out  merely  for  his  clothes  ;  which 
after  having  obtained,  being  still  without  money,  he 
bound  himself  as  an  apprentice  boy  to  a  hatter  for 
Jour  years.  Here  he  remained  several  months', 
v,h(  n  the  hatter  failed  and  he  was  again  thrown 
out  of  business.  He  then  hired  himself  as  a  la- 
bourer, acquired  a  small  sum  of  money,  and  set 
out  for  East  Tennessee,  where,  after  many  adven- 
tures for  one  so  young,  he  arrived  and  stopped 
with  some  relations,  distant  from  his  father's  about 
one  hundred  miles.  Here  he  sojourned  until  he 
either  was  or  fancied  himself  an  unwelcome  guest- 
He  then  set  out  determined  to  reach  his  father's, 
having  been  absent  about  two  years,  and  never 


32  SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

having  communicated  a  syllable  to  his  relations 
during  his  wanderings. 

The  shades  of  a  winter  evening  were  setting  in, 
when  David,  neatly  though  plainly  dressed,  came 
in  sight  of  the  house  of  his  father.  Walking  in 
with  his  bundle,  he  complained  of  fatigue  and 
asked  permission  to  remain.  His  father,  rather 
infirm,  was  discharging  the  duties  of  his  house  ; 
his  mother  was  preparing  supper ;  and  a  sister 
was  engaged  in  some  other  household  occupation. 
These,  with  a  traveller  or  two,  formed  the  little 
circle  collected  within.  Withdrawing  himself  into 
a  corner  of  the  room,  David  remained  a  silent 
spectator  of  the  scene  before  him — feeding  his  ima- 
gination upon  the  anticipated  pleasure  which  was 
to  burst  forth  upon  his  being  recognised.  Perhaps 
an  hour  elapsed,  when  the  little  party  were  sum- 
moned to  supper.  David's  features,  from  the  ex- 
treme silence  he  had  preserved,  were  anxiously 
scanned  by  all  present  so  soon  as  he  came  to  the 
light.  His  sister  recognised  him,  and  a  happy 
meeting,  with  a  gentle  chiding  for  the  strange 
manner  in  which  he  had  introduced  himself, 
closed  the  evening. 


pi 

COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.         83 

CHAPTER  II. 

DAVID'S  wanderings  had  caused  his  parents 
much  uneasiness,  and  they  had  long  since  given 
him  up  for  lost.  A  prosecution  had  been  com- 
menced against  the  cattle-driver  who  had  carried 
him  off,  which  was  compromised ;  and  for  a  time 
a  ray  of  sunshine  seemed  to  play  over  the  family, 
while  David  amused  them  with  his  adventures, 
or  called  into  action  all  their  tender  sympathies 
by  a  recital  of  his  sufferings.  Occasionally  would 
he  gather  a  crowd  of  his  associates  around  him 
and  create  as  much  astonishment  by  a  narrative 
•of  what  he  had  actually  seen,  as  he  could  have 
done  had  he  just  dropped  from  the  clouds.  But 
these  halcyon  days  were  of  short  duration.  David 
had  now  arrived  at  an  age  when  he  began  to  feel 
his  ability  to  support  himself,  and  was  anxious  to 
^  engage  in  some  laudable  pursuit.  He  had,  as  yet, 
not  received  the  first  rudiments  of  the  most  com- 
mon education.  He  felt  a  great  desire  to  learn 
to  read  and  write  ;  but  his  father,  so  far  from  being 
able  to  afford  him  an  opportunity,  actually  required 
his  services.  Being  indebted  to  a  merchant  in  a 
little  village  not  many  miles  distant,  he  resolved 
to  hire  his  son  out  to  him  until  his  labour  should 
discharge  the  debt.  The  village  had  a  bad  cha- 
racter, and  David  protested  against  going;  but 


34      SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

upon  the  entreaty  of  his  father,  and  a  promise  that 
if  he  would  discharge  the  debt  he  should  thence- 
forth be  his  own  man,  he  went  to  work.  About 
six  months  of  the  closest  labour  (a  fact  stated  by 
himself,)  enabled  him  to  release  his  father.  He 
then  quit  the  village,  and  hearing  that  the  Qua- 
kers, many  of  whom  resided  in  the  village  neigh- 
bourhood, were  remarkable  for  their  kindness,  he 
resolved  to  seek  employment  among  them.  The 
first  to  whom  he  applied  offered  to  employ  him 
and  give  liberal  wages,  provided  he  would  take 
in  payment  a  note  which  he  held,  executed  by  his 
father,  for  the  sum  of  thirty  dollars.  These  were 
hard  terms  to  a  boy  just  entering  into  life,  depend- 
ent entirely  upon  his  own  exertion  for  support ; 
but  reflecting  upon  the  situation  of  his  father,  his 
extreme  poverty  and  great  age,  his  goodness  of 
heart  prevailed,  and  he  resolved  to  cancel  the  de- 
mand. He  applied  himself  diligently  to  work,  and 
in  a  little  less  than  six  months  the  Quaker  gave 
him  his  father's  note.  In  this  part  of  his  life,  he 
Jhas  a  perfect  recollection  of  never  having  failed 
40  work  a  single  day  while  in  the  employment  of 
his  friend,  the  Quaker,  It  however  served  to 
give  him  a  good  character,  and  he  never  wanted 
for  employment  afterwards. 

Although  within  twenty  miles  of  his  father's, 
he  had  not  visited  there  for  about  twelve  months : 
so,  taking  his  note  along  with  him,  he  went  home, 
and  after  knocking  about  awhile,  he  presented  it 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.          35 

to  his  father,  who  told  him  he  was  entirely  iinabfe 
to  pay  it.  David  remarked  it  was  not  presented 
for  payment,  but  intended  as  a  gift,  and  stated 
how  he  became  possessed  of  it.  His  father  was 
much  affected  and  even  mortified — perhaps,  for 
having  forced  his  son  to  work  at  a  place  counter 
to  his  wishes.  Being  much  in  want  of  clotiresv 
and  hearing  that  the  Quakers  were  famous  for 
their  workmanship,  David  went  to  work  amocg 
them  until  he  was  genteelly  dressed.  His  desire 
of  learning  to  read  again  returning,  he  went  to  see 
a  Quaker  who  kept  a  school  in  the  neighbourhood 
and  with  him  made  the  following  bargain :  That 
he  would  labour  in  the  field  two  days  for  being 
allowed  to  go  to  school  three.  He  soon  became 
a  favourite,  progressed  rapidly,  and  remained 
here  some  five  or  six  months,  strictly  complying 
with  his  bargain.  This  was  the  only  schooling  h<; 
ever  received. 

After  being  at  school  some  four  or  five  months^ 
his  tutor  was  visited  by  a  female  relation.  She 
was  pretty  and  fascinating,  and  David  began  to 
feel  a  little  unhappy  whenever  she  was  absent. 
She  did  not  long  remain  ignorant  of  the  impress 
sion  she  had  made,  nor  could  she  recollect  that  a 
handsome  stripling  was  interested  in  her  welfare 
without  feeling  her  spirits  flutter  with  delight. 
They  for  some  time  conversed  with  their  eyes*  a 
language  least  liable  to  be  misunderstood;  and 
David  fouHd  out  that  she  was  not  altogether  iadi& 


36      SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

ferent  to  him.  While  things  were  in  this  situation 
she  had  an  offer  of  marriage  from  a  weal  thy  neigh- 
bour, which  was  exceedingly  gratifying  to  her 
relation.  David  saw  that  with  him  the  thing  was 
out — that  it  would  be  idle  to  press  his  claims  while 
a  wealthy  suitor  was  soliciting  her  hand.  He 
subdued  his  passion.  She  was  courted,  and  but 
a,  short  time  elapsed  before  it  was  necessary  to 
make  a  parcel  of  pens.  Pigs,  turkeys,  geese, 
chickens,  &c.  were  restricted  from  taking  exer- 
cise, and  forced  to.  sit  and  eat,  preparatory  to  their 
'being  sacrificed  on  a  day  appointed,  when  Miss 

was  to  become  a  wealthy  bride.  An  unusual 

bustle,  with  the  arrival  of  all  the  neighbours,  an- 
nounced the  evening,  "  About  this  time,"  says 
David,  "  I  began  to  feel  unhappy,  but  did  not  know 
tvhy.  I  thought  the  devil  and  all  was  in  women — 
that  there  was  nothing  on  earth  like  them." 

Among  the  crowd  that  assembled  on  that  evening 
was  a  pretty  little  girl  whom  David  had  often  seen ; 
and  he,  with  her  for  a  partner,  waited  on  the  bri- 
dal couple.  To  cure  one  love  scrape  he  conceived 
it  wise  to  seek  another — so  to  work  he  went.  He 
was  modest  and  retiring,  and  at  first  made  but  slow 
progress;  but  several  old  fashioned  plays  were  in- 
troduced, which  served  to  help  him  along  amazingly. 
Being  a  handsome  fellow  and  a  favourite  where  he 
lived,  his  attentions  were  kindly  received,  and  ere 
they  parted  next  morning,  not  only  had  the  stolen 
glances  of  her  eyes  indicated  an  interest  in  his 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.          37 

welfare,  but  her  hand  had  been  solicited,  and  that 
with  her  heart  irrecoverably  pledged.  With 
regret  the  crowd  parted,  and  not  one  experienced 
more  heartfelt  sorrow  than  our  loving  couple.  A 
day  not  far  distant  was  appointed  when  David 
was  to  pay  a  visit  and  ask  for  his  bride.  Time 
rolled  heavily  along.  David  could  neither  work 
nor  go  to  school,  but  lounged  idly  about,  thinking 
of  her  who  was  dearest  to  him. 

At  length  the  day  arrived,  and  borrowing  a 
horse  he  set  out  in  high  hopes,  filled  with  those 
natural  yet  exciting  fears  which  render  love  so 
delightful.  Upon  getting  within  a  few  miles  of 
the  home  of  his  intended,  he  heard  of  a  great 
dance,  and  met  a  party  going  on  for  fun  and  frolic. 
He  stopped.  That  evening  was  the  time  appointed 
by  him  to  ask  for  his  bride — that  evening  a  frolic 
was  to  take  place,  and  he  was  now  in  reach  of  it. 
His  resolution  faltered — to-morrow  would  do  to 
ask  for  his  wife.  So  wheeling  his  horse  about, 
uninvited,  he  determined  to  enjoy  the  frolic.  Ar- 
riving at  the  house  full  of  fun  and  life,  he  soon 
became  a  welcome  guest,  and  met  with  a  very 
jolly  set.  It  was  composed  of  the  less  refined 
portion  of  society,  and  appearances  promised 
much  sport.  The  house  was  tolerably  large, 
with  a  dirt  floor,  which  had  been  swept,  ready  for 
a  dance.  Most  of  the  persons  present  had  "  taken 
a  little,"  and  were  consequently  in  a  good  humour. 
Both  girls  and  boys  had  on  their  best  bib  and 
D 


38  SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

tucker.  The  dresses  of  the  ladies,  however,  were 
chosen  counter  to  Apollonius'  advice,  being  gaudy, 
not  rich ;  and,  expressed  in  fancy,  they  looked 
"  very  killing." 

Had  every  thing  been  dull,  the  appearance  of 
old  Ben,  the  banjo  player,  would  have  filled  them 
with  fun.  He  was  seated  in  a  corner  upon  a  stool, 
holding  his  instrument,  which  he  called  SAL, 
and  the  perspiration  exuded  so  freely  that  he 
looked  very  much  as  if  he  had  been  greased.  His 
hair  was  reached,  and  he  wore  an  air  of  much 
dignity.  His  forehead  was  low  and  narro\v  ;  his 
eyes  red  and  sunken ;  his  nose  not  so  fiat,  but 
protuberant  at  the  sides  ;  his  lips  curling,  as  if  in 
scorn  at  each  other.  His  teeth  were  not  placed 
perpendicular,  but  set  in  at  an  obtuse  angle,  which 
caused  them  to  jut  out ;  and  his  lower  jaw  seemed 
to  have  a  great  antipathy  to  the  upper,  and  when 
idle,  always  kept  as  far  off  as  possible.  His  appa- 
rel was  in  unison  with  his  face.  He  had  on  no 
jump  jacket,  and  his  bosom  was  a  little  exposed. 
His  coat  hung  down  nearly  to  his  heels,  and  was 
at  the  same  time  nearly  large  enough  for  a  cloak ; 
while  his  pantaloons  (light  drab)  were  a  close  fit 
all  the  way,  and  so  short  that  they  only  came 
where  the  calves  of  his  legs  ought  to  have  been. 
The  contrast  between  his  black  legs  and  drab 
breeches  might  have  made  one  fancy  he  had  on 
boots,  but  that  the  shape  of  the  lower  extremity 
denied  it.  His  leg  was  placed  so  nearly  in  the 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.          39 

middle  of  his  foot,  that,  with  toes' at  each  end,  no 
one  could  have  tracked  him ;  and  the  hollow  of 
his  feet  projected  so  far  outward  that  it  gave  them 
somewhat  the  appearance  of  rockers  to  a  chair. 
Ben  also  had  much  vanity,  and  thought  he  was 
looking  remarkably  well  that  evening ;  but  with 
all  this,  his  willingness  to  oblige,  and  a  certain 
portion  of  good  humour  which  played  over  his 
countenance,  rendered  him  pleasant  to  look  upon. 
Girls  and  boys  were  all  ready  for  fun,  and  never 
was  there  a  more  enlivening  scene  than  when  Sal 
jumped  up,  spun  round,  and  swore  she  could  "go 
her  death"  upon  a  jig,  and  cried  out,  "  Uncle  Ben, 
strike  up !"  Jinny  got  up,  spun  round,  and  faced  Sal ; 
and  both  began  to  shuffle.  Soon  the  whole  house 
was  up,  knocking  it  off — while  old  Ben  thrummed 
his  banjo,  beat  time  with  his  feet,  and  sung,  in 
haste,  the  following  lines,  occasionally  calling  for 
particular  steps : 

"  I  started  off  from  Tennessee, 
My  old  horse  wouldn't  pull  for  me. 

(Ben  cries  out — "  JVbic,  back  step  an'  heel  an'  toe") 

"  He  began  to  fret  an'  slip, 
•  An'  I  begin  to  cus  an'  whip  ; 

Walk  jawbone  from  Tennessee  ; 
Walk  jawbone  from  Tennessee. 

("JV0M?,  weed  cor/?,  kiver  taters,  aw'  double  shuffle."} 

"  I  fed  my  horse  in  de  poplar  trof. 
It  made  him  cotch  de  hoopin'  cof ; 
My  old  horse  died  in  Tennessee, 
And  will'd  his  jawbone  here  to  me, 
Walk  jawbone,"  &c. 


40      SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

The  dance  was  all  life.  They  spin  round — 
they  set  to — they  heel  and  toe — they  double 
shuffle — they  weed  corn — they  kiver  taters — they 
whoop  and  stop. 

«  Now,  Dick,"  says  Sal, "  did  n't  I  go  my  death?" 

"  Yes,  you  did,  Sal.  But  did  n't  I  go  the  whole 
animal  ?" 

"  Yes,  you  did,  Dick.  You  are  the  yallerest 
flower  of  the  forest." 

They  take  a  little,  treat  the  fiddler,  and  are 
again  ready.  No — Ben  has  to  mend  his  suspender, 
and  pull  up  his  breeches.  Now  they  are.  Out 
goes  Tom,  and  calls  for  her  favourite  tune  of  jay- 
bird ;  but  she  was  admonished  that  she  had  once 
been  before  the  church  for  the  same  profanity,  and 
was  ordered  to  be  seated.  Names  here,  at  that 
time,  were  no  true  indication  of  the  sex,  and  are 
not  entirely  so  to  this  day ;  for  I  now  know  a  girl 
named  Tom,  and  a  boy  named  Mary.  However, 
Tom  having  seated  herself,  out  walked  Sal  again, 
and  called  for  Jim  Crow.  Says  old  Ben,  "Miss 
Sal,  I  lub  to  see  yur — yur  so  limber  on  de  floor." 
So  soon  as  Ben  struck  up,  many  joined  in ;  and 
when  he  stopped,  every  woman  in  the  house  was 
on  the  floor,  being  afraid  of  the  consequence  of 
the  last  line.  This  was  danced  in  a  different 
style  from  the  other,  and  while  Ben  with  his 
banjo  and  feet  kept  time,  he  sung  the  following 
lines: 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.          41 

•*  My  old  misses  she  don't  like  me, 
Bekase  I  don't  eat  de  black  eye  pea ; 
My  old  misses  she  don't  like  me, 
Bekase  I  don't  eat  de  black  eye  pea. 

**  My  old  misses  long  time  a^o, 

She  took  me  down  de  hill  side  to  jump  Jim  Crow ; 

Fus  'pon  de  heel  tap,  den  'pon  de  toe, 

Eb'ry  Monday  morning  1  jump  Jim  Crow. 

"  Oh  Lord,  ladies,  don't  you  know 
You  nebber  get  to  Heben  till  you  jump  Jim  Crow." 
(Repeat — "  My  old  misses,"  &c.) 

But  even  the  world  must  have  an  end ;  so  the 
dance  closed,  and  not  one  of  all  that  crowd  danced 
more,  got  in  a  love  scrape  sooner,  drank  more 
whiskey,  saw  more  fun,  or  sat  up  later  than  David 
Crockett ;  for  next  morning  beheld  him  an  early- 
riser,  not  having  retired  during  the  evening,  suffer- 
ing the  after-claps  always  attendant  upon  a  night 
of  dissipation.  It  being  the  first  excess  he  was 
ever  known  to  be  guilty  of,  nothing  else  was  talked 
about.  With  him  the  only  care,  save  for  the  sick- 
ness under  which  he  was  then  labouring,  was  the 
fear  that  his  intended  might  find  it  out.  However, 
after  the  whiskey  which  he  drank  had  evaporated, 
from  being  spread  over  the  ground,  and  he  had 
somewhat  recovered,  conscience  stricken  he 
mounted  his  horse,  and  unwillingly  urged  him  on 
to  visit  his  mistress.  The  distance  diminished 
even  faster  than  he  wished  it,  and  he  rode  up  to 
a  house,  distant  about  a  mile  from  the  place  of 
his  destination,  to  inquire  the  news,  or  nyther  to 
saunter  his  time  away.  Dismounting  and  going 
in,  he  there  met  with  a  sister  of  his  intended  bride. 

D2 


42  SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

After  the  usual  commonplace  salutations,  he  made 
some  inquiry  after  her  who  was  dearest  to  him, 
and  ascertained  that  she  was  to  be  married  on 
that  very  evening  to  another  man.  His  riding 
whip  slipped  from  between  his  fingers  ;  his  lower 
^aw  involuntarily  fell.  With  mouth  open,  and 
eyes  staring  wildly,  he  gazed  upon  the  messenger 
of  this  unwelcome  news.  The  remainder  of  the 
company,  not  knowing  the  cause  of  his  surprise, 
gazed  as  wildly  at  him.  However,  the  tidings 
being  too  true,  and  corroborated  beyond  all  doubt, 
he  remounted,  and  again  sought  the  scene  of 
frolicking,  there  to  forget,  amid  the  gay  and  light- 
hearted,  his  own  deep  suffering  and  mortification. 
He  was  the  last  to  leave  the  place,  and  then  went 
home  to  the  Quaker's,  whose  sympathies  were 
much  enlisted  in  his  favour,  upon  a  recital  of  his 
sufferings. 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.         43 


CHAPTER  III. 

PECUNIARY  misfortunes  we  submit  to:  the  loss 
of  our  dearest  friends  we  become  reconciled  to : 
but  a  rejection,  where  the  feelings  are  much 
interested,  creates  sensations  which  belong  exclu- 
sively to  that  situation.  There  are  no  terms  which 
can  define  them,  nor  are  they  ever  felt  under  other 
circumstances.  In  other  misfortunes,  their  cer- 
tainty enables  us  to  bear  them.  But  in  a  rejection, 
there  is  always  a  species  of  suspense,  or  hope, 
which  will  exist  in  the  face  of  a  thousand  denials. 
What !  Hope  not  exist,  because  a  lovely  woman 
has  said  no — because  she  has  said  no,  whose  only 
method  consists  in  going  counter  to  all  method — 
because  she  has  said  no,  whose  determination, 
when  once  made,  is  so  fixed  that  it  has  given  rise 
to  the  following  Ikies : 

"  Stamp  it  on  the  running  stream,        '.- 

Print  it  on  the  moon's  pale  beam,  ^    i 

And  each  evanescent  letter 

Shall  be  firmer,  fairer,  better, 

And  more  permanent,  I  ween, 

Than  the  things  those  letters  mean." 

Yet  there  is  something  very  sickening  in  a 
rejection.  It  unhinges  one — relaxes  all  his  mus- 
cles, and  produces  a  state  of  feeling  very  nearly 
allied  to  that  which  a  man  feels  who  is  to  be  hung, 
from  the  time  the  scaffold  is  knocked  loose  until 


44  SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

the  rope  catches  him.  During  that  single  moment 
of  descent,  liver,  lights,  etc.  endeavour  to  go  out 
through  the  mouth.  But  I  hate  to  think  of  a 
rejection ;  for  I  always  recollect  the  general  con- 
solation attending  it.  A  woman  most  generally 
tenders  her  friendship  in  lieu  of  her  love  which  is 
asked — -a  sufficient  requital,  Heaven  knows  !  But 
the  other  sex  will  tell  you  to  stand  it  like  a  man ! 
Yes,  stand  it  like  a  man,  when  you  can 't  stand  it ! 
I  have  seen  many  a  poor  fellow,  worse  off  than  I 
could  describe  him,  puffed  up  for  an  instant  with 
this  consolation. 

Thinking  of  the  ladies,  I  have  forgotten  David, 
and  I  hope  my  reader  will  not  require  me  to  tell 
what  he  has  been  at  since  I  left  him ;  for,  of  all 
things,  I  hate  to  dwell  upon  time  subsequent  to  a 
rejection.  It  is  a  horrible  portion  of  a  man's  life. 
Besides,  I  don't  think  a  man  has  a  right  to  mope, 
and  pretend  to  pine  away,  and  look  mad,  and  be 
disagreeable  to  every  body  he  meets  with,  because 
a  lady  cannot  love  him.  By  doing  so,  he  pays 
but  a  poor  compliment  to  the  remainder,  and 
shows  great  ignorance  of  the  sex. 

"  What  careth  she  for  hearts,  when  once  possessed." 

Rather  stand  it  like  a  man  and  be  consoled,  not 
by  the  trite  adage  that  "  there  are  as  good  fish  in 
the  sea  as  ever  were  caught  out  of  it" — for  I  do 
not  mean  to  make  so  scaly  a  comparison — but, 
reflect  that  where  pearls  are  found,  more  may  be. 
There  is  no  philosophy  in  one's  making  a  block- 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.          45 

lie  ad  of  himself.  If  a  woman  don't  love  you,  you 
would  not  marry  her :  then  cease  teasing,  and  drop 
it.  This  was  the  philosophy  which  then  governed 
David ;  and  so  far  from  having  to  part  from  him  on 
account  of  one  small  mishap,  I  hope  to  be  able  to 
place  him  in  a  situation  where  he  may  have 
another  chance  of  experiencing  that  delightful 
sensation,  felt  only  between  the  scaffold  and  the 
end  of  the  rope. 

Some  short  time  after  David's  first  misfortune, 
he  happened  to  meet  with  a  female  cousin,  who 
told  him  there  was  to  be  a  great  reaping  and  flax- 
pulling  in  the  neighbourhood,  at  which  there  were 
to  be  many  girls ;  and  that  she  had  no  doubt  that 
the  woman  he  was  destined  to  many,  would 
be  among  the  number.  This  was  enough.  It  set 
his  imaginination  at  work,  and  he  returned  home, 
once  more  indulging  in  happy  anticipations.  He 
then  went  over  to  a  neighbouring  Quaker's,  where 
lived  an  apprentice  boy,  his  associate,  and  to  him 
communicated  the  prospect  for  fun.  He  caught 
like  tinder  the  contagion,  and  both  resolved  to  go 
at  all  hazards.  The  apprentice  was  to  ask  his 
masters  permission,  and  David  was  to  labour  with 
him,  when  the  frolic  was  over,  to  make  up  for  lost 
time.  However,  the  master  would  not  hear  of 
the  proposition,  and  reminded  David  of  the  repu- 
tation he  had  already  obtained  by  a  frolic.  But 
go  they  would,  even  counter  to  orders.  So  much 
fun  could  not  be  lost.  The  agreement  settled  upon 


46  SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

was,  that  David  should  go  over  to  the  frolic  in 
the  morning,  and  his  friend  would  get  a  couple  of 
the  old  Quaker's  horses,  and  come  in  the  evening, 
though  about  six  miles,  in  time  for  the  dance. 
The  appointed  day  came,  and  David  hastened 
away  to  the  reaping  and  flax-pulling. 

It  was  a  lovely  morning,  and  the  scene  one  of 
life  and  happiness.  There  was  only  air  enough 
to  stir  the  dark  ringlets  of  the  girls,  or  impart  to 
fields  of  yellow  grain  the  gentle  undulations  of 
the  ocean. 

When  David  arrived  there,  he  found  many  as- 
sembled, and  already  engaged  in  their  labours.  In 
one  field  were  to  be  seen  the  girls,  playful  and 
happy,  performing  their  tasks,  and  striving  to  ex- 
cel. In  another  was  to  be  heard  the  joyous  song 
of  the  reapers,  while  their  voices  kept  tune  to  the 
sweep  of  the  sickle.  His  heart  bounded  writh  joy, 
and  he  was  soon  in  the  midst  of  them.  The  beau- 
ty of  a  harvest  field,  the  universal  cheerfulness 
which  prevails  over  it,  and  the  reflection  that  the 
husbandman  is  reaping  the  reward  of  his  labour, 
render  it  one  of  the  most  interesting  scenes  in  na- 
ture, and  has  served  to  identify  it  with  festivity 
and  rejoicing. 

Having  finished  their  labours,  the  reapers  sung 
with  full  chorus  "  the  harvest  home,"  while  they 
bent  their  way  to  the  field  where  the  girls  were 
engaged  in  pulling  flax,  vying  who  should  finish 
soonest.  When  they  arrived  there,  all  was 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.          47 

silence — nothing  could  be  heard  save  the  pulling 
of  the  flax.  To  the  girls  it  was  a  moment  of  great 
interest.  The  young  men  were  about  to  select 
their  partners.  The  formality  of  introductions  had 
not  at  that  time  crept  into  the  backwoods,  and  Da- 
vid sauntered  among  the  gathering  of  girls,  in  order 
to  find  out  who  was  most  beautiful,  or  who  would 
suit  his  fancy  best.  He  was  soon  observed  to 
pace  backwards  and  forwards  a  small  spot  of 
ground,  as  if  for  the  purpose  of  examining  the  fea- 
tures of  a  little  girl  engaged  in  her  task,  not  far 
distant.  A  moment  more,  he  was  at  her  side,  pull- 
ing flax,  and  endeavouring  to  make  her  excel  her 
companions.  This  was  the  benefit  of  a  partner ; 
and  it  frequently  happened,  that  the  lady  who  ac- 
complished her  task  first,  was  more  indebted  to 
her  beauty  for  doing  so,  than  to  her  industry. 
Whether  David's  partner  was  pretty  or  not,  I 
never  knew.  I  have  no  doubt  he  thought  so. 

The  day  passed  off  pleasantly,  and  happily  came 
on  the  evening  dance.  There  was  no  fashion — 
no  finery — no  short  frocks — no  corsetts.  They  did 
not  encircle  each  other  throughout  the  mazy  wind- 
ings of  a  waltz ;  nor  were  they  skilled  in  the  less 
fashionable  cotillion.  But,  with  neat,  plain  gar- 
ments of  their  own  manufacture,  and  with  figures 
such  as  nature  made  them,  they  met,  after  the 
toils  of  the  day  were  over,  to  give  loose  to  the 
feelings  of  their  innocent  hearts.  Nor  must  I  for- 
get him,  not  who  is  master  of  ceremonies,  for  there 


48  SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

was  none,  but  who  presides  over  the  scene.  His 
full  heart  overflows  with  joy,  and  brimful  of  hos- 
pitality, he  sets  before  them  all  his  little  farm  af- 
fords. Is  it  necessary  that  fashion  should  preside, 
or  glittering  show  lend  its  ornaments,  that  the 
heart  may  be  feasted  ?  Is  it  requisite  that  pride 
or  wealth  should  lend  its  influence  ?  No — 

"  For  a'  that,  and  a'  that, 
Their  tinsel  show,  and  a*  that ; 
The  honest  man,  tho'  e'er  sac  poor, 
Is  king  o'  men,  for  a'  that." 

I  fear  that,  for  my  city  readers,  this  simple  nar- 
rative will  have  no  charms.  But,  to  my  mind, 
there  is  something  refreshing  in  turning  from  the 
dissipation  of  a  city  to  look  upon  a  rural  fete — 
from  etiquette  and  rigid  forms,  to  nature  as  it  is. 
It  reminds  one  of.  the  days  which,  in  some  measure, 
once  characterized  our  country,  and  which  now 
characterize  Scotland,  and  part  of  England.  It 
reminds  one  of  all  that  is  happy.  It  seems  pecu- 
liarly the  home  of  love. 

When  they  met  that  evening,  all  were  gladsome. 
Awhile  they  trip  the  country  dance — then  ex- 
change it  only  for  some  amusement  less  fatiguing, 
or  for  one  which  promises  more  pleasure.  Even 
conundrums  (I  hate  them,  for  they  always  remind 
me  of  rail-road  stockings,  which  I  abominate)  were 
unknown.  But,  by-the-bye,  why  is  the  loveliest 
and  best  woman  we  ever  meet  with,  like  the  Prince 
of  Darkness  ? 

The  pastimes  of  our  infancy  ever  interest  us ; 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.          49 

chiefly  from  their  simplicity,  or  else  from  the  fact 
that  we  wonder  now  how  things  so  silly  could 
have  delighted  us  then.  Plays  which  had  been 
fashionable  when  their  grandmothers  were  girls, 
such  as  Sell  the  Thimble,  Grind  the  Bottle,  &C., 
were  called  up,  and  wearied  out.  Nothing  seem- 
ed to  give  more  enjoyment  than  a  play  termed, 
"  We  are  on  our  way  to  Baltimore."  This,  from 
its  title,  was  probably  picked  up  by  David,  during 
his  wanderings  ;  and  derived  its  chief  charm  from 
the  circumstance,  that  every  couple  who  composed 
it,  had  to  kiss  each  other  at  stated  pauses.  It  con- 
sisted of  a  wild  and  irregular  dance,  during  whichr 
with  measured  steps,  the  following  lines  were 
sweetly  chanted  : 

44  We  are  on  our  way  to  Baltimore, 
With  two  behind,  and  two  before  ; 
Around,  around,  around  we  go, 
Where  oats,  peas,  beans  and  barley  grow, 
In  waiting  for  somebody. 

(A  kiss.} 

"'Tis  thus  the  farmer  BOWS  his  seed, 
Folds  his  arms,  and  takes  his  ease, 
Stamps  his  feet,  and  claps  his  hands, 
Wheels  around,  and  thus  he  stands, 
In  waiting  for  somebody." 

(Another  kiss.} 

David's  partner  was  a  bewitching  creature,  and 
ere  they  had  finished  dancing  "  We  are  on  our 
way  to  Baltimore,"  she  had  led  him  far  on  the 
road  to  Love.  From  the  rapid  progress  which 
he  generally  made  in  the  affections  of  his  mistress,., 
it  must  be  conceded  that  he  could  love  more  in  a 


3K)      SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 


time  than  any  other  man.  For  we  will 
iiere  find  him,  though  introduced  as  a  stranger, 
<engaged  to  be  married  before  the  evening  is  over. 

About  eleven  o'clock,  who  should  step  in  but  the 
apprentice  boy,  ripe  for  fun  —  having,  after  his 
•sua-ster  had  retired  to  rest,  taken  out  of  the  stable, 
•according  to  agreement,  a  coup]e  of  horses.  Upon 
going  out  to  put  them  up,  there  they  stood,  cover- 
ed with  perspiration  ;  and  in  lieu  of  saddles,  there 
w<ere  two  bundles  of  hay,  upon  one  of  which  the 
apprentice  had  rode,  and  brought  the  other  for  his 
friend  David. 

They  drank  on  that  night  their  fill  of  amuse- 
ment, and  just  before  the  break  of  day,  David, 
having  arranged  matters  with  his  love,  and  fixed 
.upon  a  time  for  a  visit,  when  he  was  to  ask 
tier  mother's  consent,  set  off  with  his  friend  for 
home. 

They  had  to  ride  a  rapid  race.  The  first  light 
of  morning  was  coming  forth,  when,  in  passing  a 
neighbouring  Quaker's,  who  happened  to  be  out, 
they  were  discovered.  A  halt  was  called:  the 
affair  must  be  concealed.  So  David,  returning, 
rode  up  to  the  Quaker's,  made  a  full  confession, 
and  implored  his  secrecy.  It  was  the  first  time 
he  had  offended  ;  would  never  do  so  again  ;  would 
be  marked  in  his  future  conduct  ;  that  a  discovery 
would  forever  ruin  the  apprentice  boy.  These, 
with  sundry  other  arguments,  finally  prevailed; 
and  on  they  rode.  The  horses  were  rubbed,  and 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.          51 

put  away ;  and  the  friends,  by  means  of  a  pole, 
climbed  in  at  one  of  the  upper  windows. 

Scarcely  were  they  quiet,  when  the  apprentice 
boy  was  called  by  his  master  to  get  up  and  be 
stirring.  David's  Sunday  clothes  for  a  moment 
plagued  him.  They  went  down  together. 

Quaker. — Why,  David,  how  came  thee  here  T 

David. — I  went  over  to  the  frolic,  sir ;  got  tired, 
quit,  and  came  over  here  ;  and  my  friend  got  up 
and  let  me  in. 

Quaker. — Thee  had  better  have  taken  my  ad- 
vice. 

David. — Yes,  sir,  I  wish  I  had ;  it  would  have 
saved  me  a  long  walk. 

So  the  affair  was  entirely  concealed,  and  the 
whole  matter  passed  off  smoothly.  David's  time 
hung  heavily  on  his  hands,  until  the  day  appointed 
for  his  visit  arrived.  Rigging  himself  in  his  best 
clothes,  he  borrowed  a  horse,  and  set  out  to  see 
his  intended.  Upon  arriving  at  the  house,  he  was 
told  that  she  was  visiting  a  neighbour's  ;  and  over 
he  went  to  see  her. 

Riding  up  to  the  house  where  she  was,  many 
people  had  collected  ;  and  to  tell  his  business,  or 
not  attempt  to  conceal  it,  was  more  than  his  mo- 
desty could  bear.  So,  feigning  an  excuse,  he 
asked  if  they  had  seen  any  thing  of  a  bay  filly,  be- 
longing to  his  friend  the  Quaker,  which  had  stray- 
ed off — he  himself  having  left  her  in  the  stable  at 
home.  He  observed  that  many  smiled,  and  looked 


52      SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

quite  knowing,  as  in  truth  they  were,  the  mother 
of  the  girl  having  told  the  object  of  his  visit  be- 
fore his  arrival ;  not  being  able,  in  common  with 
her  sex,  to  keep  a  secret.  However,  David  soon 
managed  to  get  an  interview,  and  persuaded  his 
intended  to  take  a  seat  behind  him,  and  return  to 
her  mother's.  As  he  rode  off  with  his  tender 
charge,  some  wag  among  the  crowd  cried  out,  "  I 
expect  you  have  found  your  bay  filly  now  P 
Reader,  if  you  were  ever  in  love,  you  can  imagine 
the  feelings  of  David  at  this  specimen  of  back- 
woods humour ;  if  not,  I  can  give  you  no  better 
idea  of  them  than  by  using  his  own  language  :  "  I 
wish  I  may  be  shot  if  I  know  how  I  felt ;  but  I 
tell  you  what,  it  made  me  feel  quite  all-overish" 
Nevertheless,  he  spent  his  time  very  pleasantly, 
and  had  a  day  appointed  for  his  wedding. 

Not  long  after  this  visit,  a  wolf  hunt  was  agreed 
on ;  and  accordingly^on  a  fixed  day,  the  neighbours 
all  sat  out.  David  being  unacquainted  with  the 
woods,  got  lost,  and  wandered  about,  not  being 
able  to  ascertain  where  he  was.  Most  gentle 
reader,  methinks  you  seem  thunderstruck  at  the 
annunciation  that  David  Crockett  was  lost  in  the 
woods !  But  I  beg  you  to  bear  in  mind  that  he 
received  his  knowledge  not  by  intuition,  but  by  ex- 
perience ;  and  at  this  time  he  had  not  commenced 
his  favourite  pursuit  of  hunting. 

As  the  day  was  drawing  to  a  close,  and  David 
was  expecting  to  spend  the  night  alone  in  the 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.     ..    53 

woods,  what  should  he  see  but  a  female  figure, 
wandering  about,  apparently  lost.  Upon  making 
towards  it,  he  beheld  before  him  the  woman  who 
had  pledged  herself  to  be  his,  and  his  only.  An 
explanation  took  place,  which  accounted  for  her 
situation.  She  had  left  home  in  the  morning,  in 
order  to  drive  up  the  horses  to  go  to  meeting,  and 
wandering  off,  was  unable  to  get  back.  David 
gave  a  narration  of  himself,  and  together  did  they 
thank  kind  fortune  for  having,  in  a  sportive  hu- 
mour, brought  about  so  remarkable  a  meeting. 

A  godsend  of  this  sort  one  never  forgets:  not 
-even  in  the  dull  afternoon  of  life ;  but  it  is  ever 
looked  upon  as  a  little  green  isle  in  the  waste  of 
early  years,  which  the  fancy  still  delights  to  visit 

1  liMLT'T  on,  as  at  home.  They  luckily,  in  a 
;t  lime,  came  in  sight  of  a  hospitable  roof, 
where  they  were  entertained  with  much  kindness. 
On  the  next  day,  David  attended  her  home  ;  and 
the  time  fixed  for  his  wedding  being  close  at  hand, 
he  there  remained  until  he  was  married. 


54  SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OP 


CHAPTER  IV. 

DAVID  CROCKETT  being  married,  we  have  now 
to  look  upon  him  in  a  new  light,  but  in  one  not  less 
amusing.  We  will  find  in  him  no  disposition  to 
forego  pleasure,  or  avoid  a  frolic ;  and  will  con- 
template the  outbreaking  of  that  peculiarity  of 
talent  which  has  served  to  identify  him  with  the 
country  in  which  he  lives. 

I  fear  we  shall  not  be  able  to  relieve  him  from 
the  poverty  which  was  ever  his  attendant ;  for  we 
find  him  for  two  years  after  his  marriage  living 
with  his  wife's  mother,  and  making  barely  enough 
for  a  support.  From  this  situation  he  removed 
and  settled  upon  Elk  River ;  when,  the  late  war 
breaking  out,  he  left  home,  and  served  as  a  volun- 
teer in  defence  of  his  country.  After  serving 
several  months,  he  obtained  permission  to  return 
home  ;  but  having  tasted  the  excitement  of  battle, 
the  pleasure  of  company,  etc.,  he  became  unhappy, 
and  again  sought  the  army. 

He  was  in  many  skirmishes,  and  always  bore 
among  his  comrades  the  reputation  of  a  brave  man. 
He  was  at  Tallisahatchee,  Talladago,  and  at  Pen- 
sacola.  Serving  under  General  Jackson,  he  be- 
came personally  acquainted  with  him,  and  was 
sincerely  and  devotedly  his  friend,  until  circunv 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.          55 

stances  connected  with  his  political  life,  brought 
about  a  separation. 

During  his  stay  in  the  army,  he  found  a  field  for 
the  exercise  of  that  talent  with  which  nature  had 
so  eminently  endowed  him.  Without  education, 
without  the  refinement  of  good  society,  perfectly 
a  child  of  nature,  and  thrown  by  accident  among- 
men  raised,  like  himself,  on  the  frontiers,  and  con- 
sequently uneducated,  he  was  perfectly  at  home. 
Naturally  of  a  fine  person,  with  a  goodness  of 
heart  rarely  equalled,  and  a  talent  for  humour 
never  excelled,  he  soon  found  his  way  to  the  hearts 
of  his  messmates.  No  man  ever  enjoyed  a  greater 
degree  of  personal  popularity,  than  did  David 
Crockett  while  with  the  army ;  and  his  success 
in  political  life  is  mainly  attributable  to  that  fact. 
I  have  met  with  many  of  his  messmates,  who  spoke 
of  him  with  the  affection  of  a  brother,  and  from 
them  have  heard  many  anecdotes,  which  convince 
me  how  much  goodness  of  heart  he  really  pos- 
sesses. He  not  unfrequently  would  lay  out  hisr 
own  money  to  buy  a  blanket  for  a  suffering  sol- 
dier; and  never  did  he  own  a  dollar  which  was  not 
at  the  service  of  the  first  friend  who  called  for  it. 
Blessed  with  a  memory  which  never  forgot  any 
thing,  he  seemed  merely  a  depository  of  anecdote  r 
while,  at  the  same  time,  to  invent,  when  at  a  lossv 
was  as  easy  as  to  narrate  those  which  he  had  al- 
ready heard.  These  qualities  made  him  the  ral- 
lying point  for  fun  with  all  his  messmates,  and 


56  SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

served  to  give  him  that  notoriety  which  he  now 
possesses.  Vanity  or  refinement  were  terms  that 
he  hardly  knew  the  meaning  of,  and  his  mind,  un- 
taught by  rigid  rules,  roved  free  as  the  wild  beasts 
he  hunted,  and  sometimes  gave  vent  to  expres- 
sions and  to  ideas,  which  could  never  have  been 
conceived  by  any  other  individual.  This  slight 
sketch  will  perhaps  be  doubted.  But  to  those 
who  doubt,  I  would  say,  go  and  hunt  with  Colonel 
Crockett  for  a  week,  and  you  will  then  believe, 
and  never  regret  the  time  spent. 

While  Mr.  Crockett  was  absent,  fighting  in  de- 
fence of  his  country,  he  met  with  a  severe  mis- 
fortune in  the  death  of  his  wife,  which  rendered 
it  necessary  for  him  to  return  and  take  care  of  his 
children.  This  event  served  to  wean  him  from 
all  thoughts  of  the  army,  kept  him  closely  at  home, 
and  for  some  time  changed  the  general  tenor  of 
liis  life. 

Duty  to  his  children  required  that  he  should 
seek  a  helpmate  ;  and  accordingly  he  selected  for 
his  companion  the  widow  of  a  deceased  friend. 
He  then  removed  to  Laurens  county,  where  cir- 
cumstances forced  him  to  figure  in  a  different 
sphere.  Here  his  popularity  secured  him  the  of- 
fice of  justice  of  the  peace.  Soon  after  this  he 
was  elected  colonel ;  and  finally  a  representative 
in  the  state  legislature.  To  fill  these  various  of- 
fices, he  was  invited  by  the  partiality  of  his  friends ; 
but  his  success  is  mainly  attributable  to  energy  of 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.         57 

character,  and  to  the  possession  of  that  talent,  in 
an  eminent  degree,  which  enables  a  man  to  re* 
cognise  every  person  he  meets,  whether  he  knows 
him  or  not ;  and  to  inquire,  without  being  discom- 
posed, after  wives  and  children  who  have  long 
since  been  swept  from  existence. 

Colonel  Crockett  was  flattered  by  being  elected 
to  the  legislature  ;  but,  satisfied  that  he  was  called 
upon  to  discharge  a  duty  for  which  his  early  life 
had  rendered  him  unqualified,  ho  felt  awkward. 
However,  he  took  his  seat,  and  the  preliminary 
business  of  electing  door  keepers,  clerks,  etc. 
having  been  gone  through,  he  discovered  many 
persons  presenting  what  they  termed  "bills,"  and 
being  fresh  from  the  backwoods,  and  unacquainted 
with  the  rules  of  a  deliberative  body,  took  up  an 
idea,  that,  as  many  others  were  presenting  bills, 
he  must  do  so  too.  80  he  got  a  friend  to  draft  a 
bill,  rose  in  his  seat,  and  with  much  confidence 
presented  it.  The  object  of  it  I  have  now  for- 
gotten, though  I  was  satisfied,  at  the  time  of  his 
narration  to  me,  of  its  propriety,  the  bill  was 
opposed  by  Mr.  M 1,  who,  during  the  discus- 
sion, thought  proper  to  travel  out  of  his  way  to 
allude  to  Colonel  Crockett,  as  the  gentleman  from 
the  cane,  in  rather  disparaging  terms. 

The  colonel's  mettle  began  to  rise :  so  that, 
when  Mr.  M 1  seated  himself,  upon  many  per- 
sons crying  out,  "Crockett,  answer  him — Crockett, 
answer  him,"  he  determined  to  do  so.  His  diffi- 


58  SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

dence  for  a  time  prevented  him  from  rising — but 
his  embarrassed  situation  is  more  happily  described 
in  his  own  language.  "  Well,  I  had  never  made 
a  speech  in  my  life.  I  did  n't  know  whether  I 
could  speak  or  not ;  and  they  kept  crying  out  to 
me,  *  Crockett,  answer  him — Crockett,  answer 
him  : — why  the  deuce  do  n't  you  answer  him  ?' 
So  up  I  popped.  I  was  as  mad  as  fury  :  and  there 
I  stood  and  not  a  word  could  I  get  out.  Well,  I 
bothered,  and  stammered,  and  looked  foolish,  and 
still  there  I  stood ;  but  after  a  while  I  began  to 
talk.  I  do  n't  know  what  I  said  about  my  bill, 
but  I  jerked  it  into  him.  I  told  him  that  he  had 
got  hold  of  the  wrong  man  ;  that  he  did  n't  know 
who  he  was  fooling  with ;  that  he  reminded  me 
of  the  meanest  thing  on  God's  earth,  an  old  coon 
dog,  barking  up  the  wrong  tree." 

But  the  colonel  was  not  satisfied ;  for,  says  he, 

44  After  the  house  adjourned,  seeing  Mr.  M 1 

walking  off  alone,  I  followed  him  and  proposed  a 
walk.  He  consented,  and  we  went  something 

like  a  mile,  when  I  called  a  halt.  Said  I,  'M 1, 

do  you  know  what  I  brought  you  here  for?'  'No.' 
*  Well,  I  brought  you  here  for  the  express  purpose 
of  whipping  you,  and  I  mean  to  do  it.'  But  the 
fellow  said  he  didn't  mean  any  thing,  and  kept 
Apologising,  till  I  got  into  a  good  humour.  We 
then  went  back  together ;  and  I  do  n't  believe 
any  body  ever  knew  any  thing  about  it." 

"  I  '11  tell  you  another  story  of  this  same  man : 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT-          59 

'twan't  long  after  my  difficulty  with  M 1,  before 

he  got  into  a  fight  with  a  member  of  the  senatey  in 
which  he  was  worsted — for  he  had  his  ruffle  torn  ofl>, 
and  by  accident  it  remained  on  the  battle  grooncL 
I  happened  to  go  there  next  morning,  and  having 
heard  of  the  circumstance,  knew  how  the  ruffle 

came  there.     I  did  n't  like  M 1  much,  and  I 

determined  to  have  some  fun.  So,  I  took  up  h« 
fine  cambric  ruffle  and  pinned  it  to  my  coarso 
cotton  shirt — made  it  as  conspicuous  as  possible, 
and  when  the  house  met,  strutted  in.  I  seated 
myself  near  M 1 ;  when  the  members,  under- 
standing how  it  was,  soon  filled  the  house  with  a 

roar  of  laughter.     M 1  could  n't  stand  it,  aod 

\valked  out.  I,  thinking  he  might  want  a  fight^ 
though  I  had  tried  him,  followed  after;  but  it 
didn't  take  place;  and  after  a  while  he  came  uj> 
to  me,  and  asked  if  that  was  n't  his  ruffle.  I  told 
him  yes,  and  presenting  it,  observed  that  I  looked 
upon  it  as  the  flag  of  the  lower  house,  which,  in 
battle,  had  been  borne  off  by  the  senate ;  and* 
that  being  a  member  of  the  lower  house,  I  felt  it 
my  duty  to  retake  it." 

The  "gentleman  from  the  cane"  was  soon  known 
to  every  member  of  both  houses,  and  never  was 
there  a  species  of  fun  going  on,  but  Colonel 
Crockett  must  have  a  hand  in  it.  Thus  did  he 
become  exceedingly  popular,  and  his  annunciation* 
declining  to  serve  for  another  term,  caused  much 
regret. 


60  SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

Colonel  Crockett  had  vested  the  scrapings  of 
his  industry  in  a  mill,  which  was  scarcely  com- 
pleted, before  a  freshet  swept  it  off,  and  left  no 
trace  of  its  existence.  Retiring  to  bed,  comforta- 
bly situated,  he  awoke  next  morning  flat  without 
a  dollar :  so  that;  ever  was  he  mere  sport  for 
fortune.  But  he  had  been  schooled  too  deeply  in 
misfortune  to  murmur  at  his  luck,  or  spend  his  time 
in  idle  regret.  He  saw  that,  without  capital, 
where  he  was,  he  could  scarcely  support  himself. 
-13o,  winding  up  his  business,  a  short  time  found  a 
little  family,  with  a  couple  of  pack  horses  heavily 
laden,  travelling  on  deeper  into  the  "  far  off 
West."  In  advance  of  this  party,  humming  a 
song,  walked  a  cheerful,  light-hearted  backwoods- 
man, with  a  child  on  one  arm  and  a  rifle  on  the 
other,  followed  by  half  a  dozen  dogs. 

This  incident  in  the  life  of  Colonel  Crockett, 
simple  as  it  is,  is  fraught  with  philosophy  ;  and  if 
attended  to,  may  compensate  some  reader  for  the 
perusal  of  this  volume.  How  many  of  us,  when 
we  meet  with  misfortunes,  are  rather  disposed  to 
give  way  than  to  bear  up  against  them.  How 
many  of  us  curse  what  we  call  our  luck,  and  some 
even  indulge  in  farther  profanity.  Yet  how  idle  ! 
Will  our  cursing  or  fretting  restore  our  losses  ? 
Or  will  our  sinking  beneath  the  weight  of  misfor- 
tune, call  forth  tears  of  sympathy  from  a  cold, 
calculating,  interested  world  ?  He  is  little  versed 
in  the  ways  of  the  world  who  thinks  so.  Mankind 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.          61 

are  ever  disposed  to  press  down  him  who  is  sink- 
ing. It  is  human  nature.  We  are  all  struggling 
to  accomplish  some  object,  and  the  more  we  keep 
beneath  us  the  better  our  prospect.  One  is  rarely 
assisted,  unless  his  energy  of  character  is  forcing 
him  ahead  against  accumulating  circumstances : 
or  unless  he  is  so  situated  as  not  to  require  it.  In 
cither  case,  then,  self  interest  prompts  assistance, 
and  in  the  latter  you  will  have  it  forced  upon  you. 
This  idea  I  have  often  seen  illustrated,  when 
seated  on  the  margin  of  a  little  stream,  watching  > 
the  fish  endeavouring  to  get  up  its  rapids :  the 
larger  ones  ever  chase  away  the  smaller,  to  make 
room  for  themselves. 

We  curse  our  luck,  and  even  call  down  the 
vengeance  of  heaven  upon  us.  Yes  !  When — 
rarely  is  there  an  exception — if  we  analyze  our 
loss,  it  may  be  traced  to  some  imprudence  of  our 
own.  Action  is  the  soul  of  every  thing.  If  we 
meet  with  a  loss,  regret  is  idle,  and  the  sooner  we 
go  to  work,  the  sooner  it  is  repaired. 

I  do  not  mean  to  inculcate  the  idea  that  it  is 
necessary  to  move  whenever  one  meets  with  mis- 
fortune. Nothing  is  more  absurd :  and  no  coun- 
try can  give  a  more  forcible  illustration  of  my 
remark  than  the  "far  off  West."  Thousands  of 
young  men,  of  worth,  of  character,  and  of  family, 
have  flooded  the  west,  to  better  their  fortunes. 
They  come  here  with  anticipations  of  immediate 
success ;  and  there  are  so  many  engaged  in  the 
F 


62      SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

same  enterprise,  that  disappointment  must  be  the 
inevitable  consequence.  And  they  spend  their 
time,  either  brooding  over  past  days,  which  then 
seem  happy,  or  fall  into  the  too  prevalent  customs 
of  our  country,  drinking  and  gaming  ;  then  sicken 
and  die  away,  under  the  withering  influence  of 
blighted  hopes.  The  learned  professions  in  this 
country  are  crowded  beyond  any  thing  I  have 
ever  seen ;  consequently  the  wreck  of  talent  is 
great.  Often  have  I  met  with  examples  which 
chilled  me  to  the  heart.  Often  have  I  seen  one 
who  might,  by  the  coruscations  of  his  genius,  have 
shone  conspicuous  in  the  circle  from  which  he 
came,  in  some  far  land,  and  whose  parents  are 
yet  shaping  out  "  Oh  !  such  bright  hopes  of  future 
greatness,"  sinking  into  nothingness  from  cold 
neglect.  Often  do  they  sink  into  despondency, 
lamenting  the  loss  of  that  society  to  which  they 
have  been  accustomed,  and  of  which,  here,  they 
cannot  taste  the  sweets. 

These  remarks  are  intended  only  to  apply  to  the 
more  unsettled  portions  of  the  "  far  off  West," 
where,  from  the  transitory  nature  of  its  inhabitants, 
and  from  the  fact  that  they  are  made  up  of  repre- 
sentatives from  every  region  between  the  two 
circles,  it  is  impossible  that  talent  can  be  as  much 
respected,  or  as  highly  appreciated  as  it  is  in  a 
more  settled  society.  A  frontier  country  is  no 
place  for  a  marfof  modesty,  of  refinement,  or  of 
delicacy ;  and  it  must  ever  be  that  in  a  society 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.          63 

so  constituted,  success  is  as  often  the  result  of 
accident  as  the  consequence  of  merit. 

But  to  our  narrative.  When  Colonel  Crockett 
was  next  heard  from,  he  had  settled  himself  about 
one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  from  his  former  resi- 
dence, in  Gibson  county,  Western  District ;  and 
was  hard  at  work,  putting  up  log  cabins.  His 
children  were  all  too  young  to  be  of  any  service 
to  him,  so  that  all  the  labour  requisite  for  forming 
a  new  settlement  was  performed  by  himself.  His 
cabins  were  built;  a  well  was  dug;  a  little  patch 
was  cleared  for  corn ;  and  the  Colonel  found  him- 
self in  the  bosom  of  our  western  forest,  forty 
miles  from  any  settlement. 

Colonel  Crockett  was  never  avaricious ;  and  a 
change  in  his  circumstances,  from  bad  to  worse, 
had  no  effect  upon  his  spirits.  They  were  too 
buoyant,  too  playful,  ever  to  yield  to  any  misfor- 
tune :  so  that,  although  at  home  above  all  others 
in  a  crowd,  he  seemed  equally  pleased  with  the 
deepest  solitude.  Here  he  became  wedded  to 
hunting,  and  the  great  quantity  of  game  was  well 
calculated  to  have  fascinated  any  one.  Being  cut 
off  from  all  society,  his  rifle  and  dogs  were  ever 
his  companions.  Even  the  face  of  the  country  he 
had  chosen  to  dwell  in,  seemed,  in  some  measure, 
the  counter  part  of  his  mind.  It  was  wild  and 
irregular,  and,  like  himself,  subject  to  no  restraint. 
Here,  one  moment,  all  nature  was  hushed  into 
silence :  the  next,  the  earth  seemed  rocking  to  its 


64  SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

centre.  He  had  chosen  to  settle  in  that  section 
of  country  where  the  earthquake  of  1812  was  most 
sensibly  felt,  east  of  the  Mississippi  river.  That 
country  has  been  subject  to  slight  shocks  ever 
since,  and  the  colonel  remarked  to  me,  that  fre- 
quently, while  at  work,  he  has  had  his  clothes  or 
hat  shaken  down,  but  would  merely  hang  them  up 
and  continue  his  labour. 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.         65 


CHAPTER  V. 

THE  earthquake  of  1812  has  been  often  de- 
scribed; but  I  must  mention  a  few  incidents 
connected  with  it,  as  the  scene  of  many  hunting 
stories,as  well  as  the  residence  of  Colonel  Crockett, 
lies  in  that  section  of  country  where  its  effects 
were  most  felt,  east  of  the  Mississippi  river.  This 
section  of  country  is  termed  the  Shakes,  and  is 
never  alluded  to  in  common  conversation  by  any 
other  title. 

The  Obion  river,  a  deep  and  navigable  stream 
which  empties  into  the  Mississippi  nearly  opposite 
to  New  Madrid,  was  dammed  up,  and  two  con- 
siderable lakes,  one  nearly  twenty  miles  long  and 
varying  in  its  breadth,  the  other  not  quite  so  large, 
have  been  found  of  unknown  depth.  The  bed  of 
the  river  has  been  changed ;  and  fissures  or  open- 
ings, made  in  the  earth  by  the  concussion,  still 
remain,  running  parallel  to  each  other,  of  various 
lengths,  from  three  to  thirty  feet  wide,  and  from 
ten  to  forty  feet  deep.  One,  to  visit  these  Shakes, 
would  see  striking  marks  of  the  gigantic  power  of 
an  earthquake.  He  would  find  the  largest  forest 
trees  split  from  their  roots  to  their  tops,  and  lying 
half  on  each  side  of  a  fissure.  He  would  find 
them  split  in  every  direction,  and  lying  in  all 
shapes.  At  the  time  of  this  earthquake,  no  per- 
F  2 


66      SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

sons  were  living  where  those  lakes  have  been 
formed.  Colonel  Crockett  was  among  the  nearest 
settlers ;  and  to  this  day,  there  is  much  of  that 
country  entirely  uninhabited,  and  even  unknown. 
Several  severe  hurricanes  have  passed  along, 
blowing  down  all  the  trees  in  one  direction,  and 
an  undergrowth  has  sprung  up,  making  these 
places  almost  impenetrable  to  man. 

This  section  of  country  which  has  been  visited 
by  the  shakes,  forms  the  best  hunting  grounds  in 
the  west.  There  are  bears,  wolves,  panthers, 
deer,  elk,  wild  cats,  etc.  in  abundance ;  and  this 
is  the  only  place  within  my  knowledge  east  of  the 
Mississippi,  where  elk  are  yet  to  be  found. 

These  lakes  are  famed  above  all  places  for  their 
great  quantity  of  honey — I  presume  from  the  fact 
that  the  immense  number  of  trees  which  were 
killed  by  the  formation  of  the  lakes  have  afforded 
excellent  hives.  A  bee-hunter  told  me  he  had 
remained  in  one  spot  and  counted,  in  sight,  eighty 
bee  trees.  They  have  been  much  hunted,  and  are 
now  becoming  more  scarce.  A  few  settlements 
for  the  purpose  of  hunting  have  lately  been  formed 
on  the  margin  of  these  lakes,  which,  besides  the 
game  enumerated,  are  filled  with  wild  geese,  ducks, 
and  swans.  It  was  to  this  section  of  country,  a& 
I  before  remarked,  that  Colonel  Crockett  removed 
after  his  pecuniary  misfortunes. 

Innumerable  are  the  anecdotes  that  daily  occur- 
red, while  with  no  companion  save  his  favourite 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.          67 

Betsy,  (his  rifle,)  or  with  his  son  and  dogs  some- 
times added,  he  roved  the  forest. 

Still  hunting  is  with  all  hunters  a  favourite 
amusement.  It  requires  more  talent,  and  gives  a 
wider  field  for  the  formation  of  stratagems  and  the 
exercise  of  ingenuity  than  any  other  species  of 
the  same  occupation.  There  are  many  modes 
practised  by  a  wary  hunter  of  approaching  game, 
even  in  an  open  field,  which  are  attended  with 
success.  One  will  steal  up  while  it  is  feeding — 
remaining  perfectly  still,  and  personating  a  stump 
when  it  becomes  the  least  alarmed.  His-  progress 
is  gradual  and  at  stolen  intervals.  The  object 
which  he  wishes  to  shoot  becomes  familiarized  to 
the  stump,  as  it  supposes,  and  the  hunter  ap- 
proaches as  near  as  he  wishes.  Another  person- 
ating a  hog,  will,  upon  his  hands  and  knees,  root 
himself  along  until  within  shooting  distance.  Either 
of  these  modes,  when  practised  with  skill,  often 
proves  successful.  But  there  are  a  thousand  plans, 
the  best  of  which  the  hunter  must  select,  and  will 
be  governed  in  his  choice  entirely  by  circum- 
stances. 

His  favourite,  Betsy,  as  he  termed  her,  I  had 
the  pleasure  of  shooting.  She  is  a  large,  coarse, 
common  rifle,  with  a  flint  lock,  and,  from  appear- 
ance, has  been  much  used.  In  her  breech  there 
is  a  wire  hole  or  two  with  feathers  in  them,  and 
several  parts  of  her  may  be  found  wrapped  with 
a  wax  thread,  for  the  purpose  of  healing  up  wounds 


68  SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

which  she  has  received  in  her  passage  through 
life. 

To  bear  hunting,  Colonel  Crockett  has  ever 
been  most  wedded;  first,  because  it  is  profitable  ; 
secondly,  because  there  is  danger  in  it,  and  con- 
sequently great  excitement.  It  requires  a  man 
to  be  a  bear  hunter  ;  for  he  is  frequently  thrown 
into  situations  which  require  as  much  coolness 
and  determined  purpose  of  mind  as  though  he 
were  in  a  regular  battle.  All  hunters  agree  in 
saying  that  its  meat  is  superior  to  that  of  any 
other  wild  game.  You  may  drink,  from  its  pecu- 
liar sweetness,  (and  it  will  never  be  attended  with 
the  slightest  inconvenience,)  a  pint  of  pure  bear 
oil  at  a  draught. 

Occasionally  settlers  began  to  gather  around 
him,  and  Colonel  Crockett  was  called  on  for  meat. 
If  he  had  it,  it  was  theirs — if  not,  he  would  take 
his  dogs,  go  over  and  kill  them  as  much  as  they 
wanted.  This  trait  in  his  character,  always 
gained  for  him  the  good  will  of  those  who  settled 
near  him. 

I  was  amused  at  the  simplicity  with  which  he 
told  me  the  following  story :  "  I  had  n't  been  a  hunter 
long  in  these  backwoods,  when  I  had  an  occasion 
to  send  my  little  son  a  short  distance  from  home ; 
he  soon  came  galloping  back,  and  told  me  he  saw 
two  large  elk  cross  the  road  just  before  him.  I 
gathered  up  my  rifle  and  accoutrements,  jumped 
upon  the  horse,  took  up  my  son  behind  me,  to 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.          69 

show  where  they  were,  and  rode  off.  I  did  not 
think  it  advisable  to  carry  my  dogs;  for  they 
would  at  once  have  run  them  out  of  my  hearing. 
The  sun  was  something  like  two  hours  high,  and 
the  evening  was  calm  and  still.  I  had  never  at 
me  killed  an  elk,  and  was  very  anxious  to  do 
so.  I  found  where  they  had  crossed  the  road,  left 
my  little  boy  the  horse  to  go  home,  and  followed 
after  them.  The  ground  was  rather  hard,  and 
their  tracks  almost  imperceptible ;  but  I  noticed 
where  the  grass  was  bruised  by  their  treading, 
and  sometimes  I  could  see  where  they  had  bit  a 
bush  ;  in  this  way  I  followed  after  them.  I  went, 
I  s'pose,  about  a  mile,  when  I  seed  my  elk  feeding 
in  a  little  prairie  ;  there  were  no  trees  near  me  ; 
so  I  got  down,  and  tried  to  root  my  way  to  'em, 
but  they  had  got  a  notion  of  me,  for  they  would 
feed  a  wrhile,  and  then  turn  their  heads  back  and 
look  for  me,  and  then  run  off  a  little.  We  soon 
got  into  the  woods  agin,  and  I  begun  to  work  'em 
right  badly.  When  they  were  feeding,  I'd  git  a 
a  tree  'tween  me  and  them,  and  run  as  hard  as  I 
could,  then  peep  round  to  see  'em,  and  get  down, 
root  myself  behind  another  tree,  and  then  run  agin. 
The  woods  were  mighty  open,  and  I  could  see  'em 
a  long  way,  and  I'd  have  got  a  shot,  but  as  I  was 
creeping  'long  after  ?em,  I  see?d  five  deer  coming 
towards  me.  I  stopped  right  still,  and  they  come 
feeding  'long  close  to  me  :  when  they  got  in  about 
twenty  yards  of  me,  I  raised  old  Betsy,  levelled 


70      SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

her,  and  down  dropped  the  largest ;  the  others 
raised  their  heads  and  looked  astonished  ;  went 
up  to  the  one  which  was  down  and  smelt  him,  but 
didn't  seem  afraid  of  me.  I  spoke  not,  and  the  re- 
port of  the  rifle  was  the  only  noise.  Having 
loaded,  I  raised  old  Bet  again,  and  down  come 
another ;  the  others  only  looked  more  astonished. 
I  shot  down  a  third,  and  the  remainder  still  kept 
looking  on.  Coming  off  in  a  hurry,  I  brought  but 
few  balls,  and  my  fourth  load  contained  the  last 
I  thought  I  must  have  my  elk  ;  so  I  would  n't  shoot 
another,  deer.  I  have  never  seen  any  thing  like 
that  since,  in  all  my  hunting.  I  don't  believe  they 
had  ever  seen  a  man  before  ;  for  they  was  n't  the 
least  afraid  of  me  Well,  as  I  was  saying,  I 
thought  I  must  have  my  elk ;  so  I  just  left  the 
deer  lying  there,  and  I  was  sorry  I'd  killed  'em, 
and  off  I  started.  I  found  their  tracks,  and  fol- 
lowed on  till  I  agin  see'd  'em ;  'twas  gitting  late 
in  the  evening  when  I  come  in  sight  of  'em  ;  they 
had  somewhat  forgotten  me,  tho'  they  were  still  a 
little  shy ;  so,  pursuing  my  former  plan,  I  gained 
on  'em,  but  they  still  had  a  notion  of  me,  and  I 
could  n't  git  a  close  shoot.  The  sun  was  down, 
and  it  was  growing  a  little  dim,  and  I  found  I  must 
either  shoot  or  lose  'em  ;  so  I  resolved  to  take  the 
first  chance.  Again  getting  a  tree  'tween  me  and 
them,  I  run  as  hard  as  I  could  up  to  it ;  and  upon 
peeping  round,  there  stood  my  elk  about  one  hun- 
dred and  forty  yards  distant,  in  a  tolerably  clear 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.          71 

place,  with  their  heads  turned  back  looking  for  me. 
This  was  my  only  chance  ;  so  raising  up  old  Betsy, 
I  fired  at  the  one  which  was  nearest  to  me  :  at  the 
report  of  the  gun,  it  run  off,  passing  the  one  which 
was  before  it  about  twenty  yards,  and  then  tum- 
bled over.  Tiie  other  ran  on  and  stopped  with  it. 
The  ball,  as  I  found  afterward,  had  entered  just 
behind  the  shoulder,  and  ranged  forward.  I  felt 
a  little  afraid,  because  they  were  so  large ;  but  I 
went  up :  when  I  got  in  about  twenty  yards  of 
'em,  the  one  which  was  standing  up  began  to  paw 
the  ground  very  violently  and  shake  his  head  at 
me ;  his  horns  were  about  six  feet  long,  and  he 
looked  very  formidable.  I  had  nothing  to  shoot 
him  with,  and  he  seemed,  from  his  actions,  deter- 
mined for  battle.  I  tried  to  frighten  him,  but  I 
was  not  able  to  do  so  till  I  gave  a  shrill  call,  when 
off  he  run ;  so  great  is  the  effect  of  the  human 
voice  upon  all  animals.  I  then  went  rather  nearer 
to  the  one  which  was  lying  down,  walked  round 
him  several  times,  and  kept  throwing  chunks,  to 
find  whether  he  was  alive  or  not ;  but  he  did  not 
move,  so  I  went  up  to  him,  and  sure  enough  he 
was  as  dead  as  could  be.  By  this  time  it  was 
dark — I'd  wandered  off  about  four  miles,  and  had 
nothing  with  me  but  my  knife :  however,  I  set  to 
work  and  butchered  him  on  the  ground,  and  then 
set  off  for  home.  I  felt  mighty  proud  of  this  act, 
because  the  elk  was  the  first  I  had  ever  killed, 


«      SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

and  he  was  so  large.  Next  morning,  with  the 
aid  of  pack  horses,  3  got  him  home." 

The  chief  thing  which  struck  me  in  the  above 
anecdote  was,  that  the  colonel  should  term  them 
his  elk,  while  they  were  running  in  the  woods ;  it 
shows  the  great  confidence  he  has  in  his  gun ;  and 
I  believe,  from  what  I  have  seen,  that  Colonel 
Crockett  feels  as  certain  of  a  deer  or  elk  which  he 
may  find  in  the  woods,  if  he  can  get  within  one 
hundred  and  fifty  yards  of  it,  as  if  he  had  it  in  his 
chimney,  smoking,  and  would  be  as  much  offended 
were  any  one  to  frighten  it,  as  he  wrould  be  were 
the  same  individual  to  take  one  of  his  hogs. 

Colonel  Crockett,  having  hunted  for  some  time, 
collected  all  his  skins,  loaded  a  horse,  and  set  out 
for  a  store  in  order  to  barter  them  for  groceries. 
This  simple  incident  exerted  a  great  influence  on 
his  after  life.  At  the  store  he  met  several  ac- 
quaintances with  whom  he  had  served  in  the 
legislature,  and  together  they  spent  a  happy  even- 
ing. Upon  parting,  they  solicited  Colonel  Crockett 
again  to  become  a  candidate  for  the  legislature ; 
this  he  declined,  telling  them  that  there  were 
several  candidates  already  in  the  field,  and  that 
he  could  not  hope  for  success.  Moreover,  he  was 
an  entire  stranger ;  the  election  came  on  in  a  few 
weeks ;  and  that  he  lived  down  in  the  cane,  forty 
miles  from  any  settlement.  Believing  the  matter 
at  rest,  they  parted.  Colonel  Crockett  returned 
home  and  devoted  his  time  chiefly  to  hunting. 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.          73 

Accident,  however,  soon  afterward  threw  in  his 
way  a  newspaper,  in  which  he  saw  himself  an- 
nounced as  a  candidate  for  the  legislature  at  the 
ensuing  election.  He  viewed  the  matter  as  a 
quiz  ;  but  after  thinking  of  the  subject,  resolved  to 
make  a  trial ;  and  lent  all  his  energy  to  the  ac- 
complishment of  that  object,  with  a  hope  of  quiz- 
zing those  who  had  attempted  to  quiz  him. 

He  gave  up  for  a  time  his  favourite  amusement, 
and  began  to  mix  among  the  people.  He  could 
occasionally  hear  of  persons  who  intended  to  vote 
for  the  great  bear  hunter.  He  was  becoming 
somewhat  formidable,  and  the  three  other  candi- 
dates agreed  among  themselves  that  two  should 
withdraw  in  favour  of  the  third.  This  was  to  be 
determined  at  some  place  where  there  was  to  be 
a  very  considerable  gathering ;  and  to  that  place, 
an  entire  stranger,  went  Colonel  Crockett.  He 
beat  about  among  the  crowd  the  greater  part  of 
the  day  entirely  unknown.  When  it  was  deter- 
mined that  B.  should  run,  the  colonel  went  up  to 
a  small  crowd,  and  called  for  a  quart  of  whiskey, 
for  which  he  had  to  pay  fifty  cents.  While  it  was 
passing  about,  the  colonel  still  unknown,  B.  hap- 
pened to  pass  along,  Crockett  hailed  him. 

"  Hallo !  B.,  you  don't  know  me,  (B.  called  his 
name  and  passed  into  the  crowd,)  but  Til  make 
you  know  me  mighty  well  before  August;  I  see 
they  have  weighed  you  out  to  me,  but  I'll  beat  you 
mighty  badly."  (Crockett  not  knowing  a  man.) 


74  SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

B. — "  Where  did  you  spring  from,  Colonel  1" 
C. — "  O !  Pve  just  crept  out  from  the  cane,  to  see 
what  discoveries  I  could  make  among  the  whites — 
you  think  you  have  greatly  the  advantage  of  me, 
B. ;  'tis  true  I  live  forty  miles  from  any  settle- 
ment ;  I  am  very  poor,  and  you  are  very  rich  ; 
you  see  it  takes  two  'coon  skins  here  to  buy  a 
quart,  but  I've  good  dogs,  and  my  little  boys  at 
borne  will  go  their  death  to  support  my  election ; 
they  are  mighty  industrious;  they  hunt  every 
Bight  till  twelve  o'clock  ;  but  it  keeps  the  little  fel- 
*k)ws  mighty  busy  to  keep  me  in  whiskey.  When 
they  gets  tired,  I  takes  my  rifle  and  goes  out  and 
kills  a  wolf,  for  which  the  state  pays  me  three  dol- 
lars ;  so  one  way  or  other  I  keeps  knocking  along." 
^  B. — "  Well,  Colonel,  I  see  you  can  beat  me 
.  electioneering." 

-  C. — ;i  My  dear  fellow,  you  don't  call  this  elec- 
tioneering, do  you?  When  you  see  me  elec- 
tioneering I  goes  fixed  for  the  purpose.  I've  got 
a  suit  of  deer  leather  clothes,  with  two  big  pockets ; 
so  I  puts  a  bottle  of  whiskey  in  one,  and  a  twist  of 
tobacco  in  t'other,  and  starts  out :  then  if  I  meets 
a  friend,  why  I  pulls  out  my  bottle  and  gives  him 
a  drink — he'll  be  mighty  apt,  before  he  drinks,  to 
throw  away  his  tobacco;  so  when  he's  done,  I 
pulls  my  twist  out  of  t'other  pocket  and  gives  him. 
a  chaw :  I  never  likes  to  leave  a  man  worse  off 
than  when  I  found  him.  If  I  had  given  him  a 
.drink,  and  he  had  lost  his  tobacco,  he  would  not 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.          75 

have  made  much;  but  give  him  tobacco  and  a 
drink  too,  and  you  are  mighty  apt  to  get  his 
vote."  Though  profuse  in  his  liberality,  the  colo- 
nel boasted  of  his  economy,  saying,  when  alone 
he  never  spent  a  'coon  skin,  but  always  carried 
hare  skins  to  buy  half-pints.  Conversing  in  this 
way,  he  soon  became  well  known ;  and  ere  he 
left  the  ground  no  person  was  more  talked  of  than 
the  great  bear  hunter. 

His  fondness  for  fun  gave  rise  to  many  anec- 
dotes ;  among  others  I  have  heard  this,  which  I 
do  not  altogether  believe :  Colonel  Crockett,  while 
on  an  electioneering  trip,  fell  in  at  a  gathering, 
and  it  became  necessary  for  him  to  treat  the  com- 
pany. His  finances  were  rather  low,  having  but 
one  'coon  skin  about  him ;  however,  he  pulled  it 
out,  slapped  it  down  on  the  counter,  and  called 
for  its  value  in  whiskey.  The  merchant  measured 
out  the  whiskey  and  threw  the  skin  into  the  loft. 
The  colonel,  observing  the  logs  very  open,  took 
out  his  ramrod,  and,  upon  the  merchant  turning 
his  back,  twisted  his  'coon  skin  out  and  pocketed 
it :  when  more  whiskey  was  wanted,  the  same 
skin  was  pulled  out,  slapped  upon  the  counter,  and 
its  value  called  for.  This  trick  was  played  until 
they  were  all  tired  drinking. 

About  this  time  an  incident  also  occurred  some- 
what amusing,  and  which  will  serve  to  give  a  fur- 
ther illustration  of  the  backwoods.  The  colonel's 
opponent  was  an  honourable  man,  but  proud  and 


76  SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

lofty  in  his  bearing.  This  of  course  was  laid 
aside,  as  much  as  practicable,  while  he  was  elec- 
tioneering. Standing  one  day  at  his  window,  he 
observed  several  of  his  friends  passing  along  the 
road,  and  familiarly  hailed  them  to  call  by  and 
take  a  drink.  They  called,  and  upon  going  into 
the  house,  there  was  a  handsome  table,  with  choice 
liquors  set  out  on  the  middle  of  the  carpet,  which 
was  not  large  enough  to  cover  the  floor,  but  left 
on  each  side  a  vacant  space  around  the  room. 
On  this  vacant  space  walked  B.'s  friends,  without 
ever  daring  to  approach  the  table.  After  many 
and  frequent  solicitations,  and  seeing  B.  upon  the 
carpet,  they  went  up  and  drank;  but  left  him 
manifestly  with  displeasure.  Calling  at  the  next 
house  to  which  they  came,  where  happened  to 
live  one  of  Crockett's  friends,  they  asked  what  kind 
of  a  man  was  the  great  bear  hunter ;  and  received 
for  answer  that  he  was  a  good  fellow,  but  very 
poor,  and  lived  in  a  small  log  cabin,  with  a  dirt 
floor.  They  all  cried  out  he  was  the  man  for  them, 
and  swore  they  would  be  d d  sooner  than  sup- 
port a  man  as  proud  as  B.  They  never  having 
seen  a  carpet  before,  swore  that  B.  had  invited 
them  to  his  house  to  take  a  drink,  and  had  spread 
down  one  of  his  best  bed  quilts  for  them  to  walk 
upon,  and  that  it  was  nothing  but  a  piece  of  pride. 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.         77 


CHAPTER  VI. 

WHILE  electioneering,  the  colonel  always  con* 
ciliates  every  crowd  into  which  he  may  be  thrown 
by  the  narration  of  some  anecdote.  It  is  his  man- 
ner, more  than  the  anecdote,  which  delights  you. 
Having  been  a  great  deal  with  the  Dutch,  he 
draws  very  liberally  on  them  whenever  he  wants 
to  make  sport.  I  once  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing 
Colonel  Crockett  the  centre  of  some  dozen  per- 
sons, to  whom  he  was  telling  the  following  story 
of  a  Dutchman,  whose  hen-house  had  met  with 
some  mishap,  and  who,  afterwards  meeting  with 
Colonel  Crockett,  thus  went  on :  "  Well,  tarn  it, 
what  you  tink,  a  tarn  harricoon  come  to  my  hinklc 
stall"  (hen-house)  "  an  picked  out  ebery  hair  out 
de  backs  of  all  my  young  hinkles ;  so  I  goes  ober 
to  brudder  Richards,  and  gets  his  fox  trap ;  an  as 
I  comes  back,  I  says  to  myself,  I'll  catch  de  tarn 
harricoon.  So  I  takes  de  fox  trap  an  goes  to  my 
hinkle  stall,  an  I  did  n't  set  it  outside,  an  I  did  n't 
set  it  inside,  but  I  puts  it  down  jist  dere.  So  next 
morning  I  goes  to  my  hinkle  stall,  an  sure  enough 
I  had  de  tarn  harricoon  fast ;  an  he  was  n't  white, 
an  he  was  n't  black,  an  ebery  hair  was  off  he  tail, 
(opossum,)  an  soon  as  he  see  me,  he  look  so 
shame — ah  !  you  tarn  harricoon,  you  kill  my  hin- 
kles, heh  !  an  I  hit  him  a  lick,  an  he  lay  down,  an 

G  2 


78      SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

he  look  so  sorry,  he  make  me  link  he  repent ;  so 
I  turn  him  loose.  Well,  now  what  do  you  tink ;  I 
goes  to  my  hinkle  stall  next  morning,  and  dere  lay 
my  old  speckled  hinkle,  an  ebery  hair  was  out  her 
back  ;  so  I  goes  ober  to  brudder  Richard's  gin,  an 
gits  his  fox  trap,  to  catch  de  tarn  harricoon ;  an  I 
carried  it  to  de  hinkle  stall,  an  I  did  n't  set  it  out- 
side, an  I  did  n't  set  it  inside,  but  I  puts  it  jist  dere ; 
an  sure  enough,  next  morning  I  had  de  old  harri- 
coon gin ;  an  he  was  n't  white,  and  he  was  n't 
black  ;  but  he  was  white,  an  he  was  black,  spotted 
all  ober,  (pole  cat,)  an  I  goes  up  to  him,  ah  !  you's 
de  tarn  harricoon  dat  catch  my  old  speckled  hin- 
kle, heh  !  you  de  tarn  rascal !  an  I  hits  him  a  lick, 
and  he  lif  he  tail  up,  an  don't  you  tink  I  smelt  him?" 

Pursuing  this  course,  he  laughs  away  any  pre- 
judice which  may  exist  against  him  ;  and  having 
created  a  favourable  impression, enforces  his  claims 
by  local  arguments,  showing  the  bearing  which 
great  national  questions  have  upon  the  interests 
of  the  persons  whom  he  wishes  to  represent.  This 
mode,  together  with  the  faculty  of  being  a  boon 
companion  to  every  one  he  meets,  generally  ena- 
bles him  to  accomplish  his  object. 

Over  his  competitor  B.,  he  was  elected  with 
much  ease  ;  and  served  for  four  successive  years 
in  the  legislature,  notwithstanding  he  moved 
during  the  time  more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty 
miles,  and  was,  consequently,  dependent  upon 
strangers  for  his  second  election.  This  is  a  forci- 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.         79 

ble  truth  of  the  great  power  of  his  talent  for 
electioneering. 

While  in  the  legislature,  there  was  a  bill  before 
it  for  the  creation  of  a  county.  The  author  of  it 
wished  to  run  the  boundary  line,  so  as  to  support 
his  popularity ;  to  this  the  colonel  was  opposed, 
because  his  interest  wras  aftected  by  it.  They 
were  hammering  at  it  for  some  time ;  whatever 
the  author  of  the  bill  would  affect  by  speaking, 
the  colonel  would  undo  by  logrolling;  until  th^ 
matter  was  drawing  to- a  close,  when  he  rose  and 
made  the 'following  speech : 

"  Mr.  Speaker, — Do  you  know  what  that  man's 
bill  reminds  me  of?  Well,  I  'spose  you  don't,  so 
I'll  tell  you.  Well,  Mr.  Speaker,  when  I  first 
come  to  this  country,  a  blacksmith  was  a  rare 
thing;  but  there  happened  to  be  one  in  my  neigh- 
bourhood ;  he  had  no  striker,  and  whenever  one 
of  the  neighbours  wanted  any  work  done,  he  had 
to  go  over  and  strike  till  his  work  was  finished. 
These  were  hard  times,  Mr.  Speaker,  but  we  had 
to  do  the  best  we  could.  It  happened  that  one  of 
my  neighbours  wanted  an  axe,  so  he  took  along 
with  him  a  piece  of  iron,  and  went  over  to  the 
blacksmith's  to  strike  till  his  axe  was  done.  The 
iron  was  heated,  and  my  neighbour  fell  to  work, 
and  was  striking  there  nearly  all  day ;  when  the 
blacksmith  concluded  the  iron  would  n't  make  an 
axe,  but  'twould  make  a  fine  mattock;  so  my 
neighbour  wanting  a  mattock,  concluded  he  would 


80  SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

go  over  and  strike  till  his  mattock  was  done; 
accordingly,  he  went  over  the  next  day,  and 
worked  faithfully ;  but  towards  night  the  blacksmith 
concluded  his  iron  would  n't  make  a  mattock,  but 
'twould  make  a  fine  ploughshare;  so  my  neigh- 
bour wanting  a  ploughshare,  agreed  that  he  would 
go  over  the  next  day  and  strike  till  that  was  done  ; 
accordingly,  he  again  went  over,  and  fell  hard  to 
work ;  but  towards  night  the  blacksmith  concluded 
his  iron  would  n't  make  a  ploughshare,  but  'twould 
make  a  fine  show ;  so  my  neighbour,  tired  work- 
ing, cried,  a  skow  let  it  be — and  the  blacksmith 
taking  up  the  red  hot  iron,  threw  it  into  a  trough 
of  water  near  him,  and  as  it  fell  in,  it  sung  out 
show.  And  this,  Mr.  Speaker,  will  be  the  way 
with  that  man's  bill  for  a  county ;  he'll  keep  you 
all  here  doing  nothing,  and  finally  his  bill  will  turn 
out  a  skoiv,  now  mind  if  it  don't." 

Whenever  the  colonel  was  out  of  the  legisla- 
ture, he  was  either  at  work  upon  his  little  farm, 
or  engaged  in  his  favourite  pursuit  of  hunting ; 
and  in  this  way  has  the  most  of  his  life  been  spent. 
By  hunting,  he  has  supplied  himself  and  all  his 
neighbours  with  meat ;  and  there  lives  no  man 
who  has  undergone  more  hardships,  done  more 
acts  of  friendship,  or  who  has  been  more  exposed 
to  all  changes  of  weather,  than  David  Crockett. 
He  has  lived  almost  entirely  in  the  woods,  and  his 
life  has  been  a  continued  scene  of  anecdote  to  one 
fond  of  hair-breadth  escapes  and  hunting  stories. 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.          81 

The  following  story  will  be  read  with  interest, 
both  on  account  of  the  original  ideas  which  it  may 
present ;  and  likewise,  as  it  will  serve  to  illustrate 
the  character  of  Colonel  Crockett  in  a  new  light. 
I  shall  give  it,  as  far  as  my  recollection  serves  me, 
in  the  colonel's  own  language. 

"  Well,  as  I  have  told  you,  it  has  been  a  custom 
with  me  ever  since  I  moved  to  this  country,  to 
spend  a  part  of  every  winter  in  bear  hunting, 
unless  I  was  engaged  in  public  life.  I  generally 
take  a  tent,  pack  horses,  and  a  friend  'long  with 
me,  and  go  down  to  the  Shakes,  where  I  camp  out 
and  hunt  till  I  get  tired,  or  till  I  get  as  much  meat 
as  I  want.  I  do  this  because  there  is  a  great  deal 
of  game  there  ;  and  besides,  I  never  see  any  body 
but  the  friend  I  carry,  and  I  like  to  hunt  in  a  wil- 
derness, where  nobody  can  disturb  me.  I  could 
tell  you  a  thousand  frolics  I've  had  in  these  same 
Shakes  ;  but  perhaps  the  following  one  will  amuse 
you: 

"  Sometime  in  the  winter  of  1824  or  '25,  a  friend 
called  to  see  me,  to  take  a  bear  hunt.  I  was  in 
the  humour,  so  we  got  our  pack  horses,  fixed  up 
our  tent  and  provisions,  and  set  out  for  the  Shakes. 
We  arrived  there  safe,  raised  our  tent,  stored 
away  our  provisions,  and  commenced  hunting : 
for  several  days  we  were  quite  successful ;  our 
game  we  brought  to  the  tent,  salted  it,  and  packed 
it  away.  We  had  several  hunts,  and  nothing 


82      SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

occurred  worth  telling,  save  that  we  killed  our 
game. 

"  But,  one  evening  as  we  were  coming  along, 
our  pack  horses  loaded  with  bear  meat,  and  our 
dogs  trotting  lazily  after  us,  old  Whirlwind  held 
up  his  head  and  looked  about ;  then  rubbed  his 
nose  agin  a  bush,  and  opened.  I  knew,  from  the 
way  he  sung  out,  'twas  an  old  he  bear.  The 
balance  of  the  dogs  buckled  in,  and  oft'  they  went 
right  up  a  hollow.  I  gave  up  the  horses  to  my 
friend,  to  carry  'em  to  the  tent,  which  was  now 
about  half  a  mile  distant,  and  set  out  after  the  dogs. 

"  The  hollow  up  which  the  bear  had  gone  made 
a  bend,  and  I  knew  he  would  follow  it ;  so  I  run 
across  to  head  him.  The  sun  was  now  down ; 
'twas  growing  dark  mighty  fast,  and  'twas  cold ; 
so  I  buttoned  my  jacket  close  round  me,  and  run 
on.  I  had  n't  gone  fur,  before  I  heard  the  dogs 
tack,  and  they  come  a  tearing  right  down  the 
hollow.  Presently  I  heard  the  old  bear  rattling 
through  the  cane,  and  the  dogs  coming  on  like 
lightning  after  him.  I  dashed  on ;  I  felt  like  I 
had  wings,  my  dogs  made  such  a  roaring  cry  ; 
they  rushed  by  me,  and  as  they  did  I  harked  'em 
on ;  they  all  broke  out,  and  the  woods  echoed 
back,  and  back,  to  their  voices.  It  seemed  to  me 
they  fairly  flew,  for  'twas  n't  long  before  they 
overhauled  him,  and  I  could  hear  'em  fighting  not 
fur  before  me.  I  run  on,  but  just  before  I  got 
there,  the  old  bear  made  a  break  and  got  loose  ; 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT,         83 

but  the  dogs  kept  close  up,  and  every  once  in  a 
while  they  stopped  him  and  had  a  fight.  I  tried 
for  my  life  to  git  up,  but  just  before  I'd  get  there, 
he'd  break  loose.  I  followed  him  this  way  for  two 
or  three  miles,  through  briars,  cane,  etc.  and  he 
devilled  me  mightily.  Once  I  thought  I  had  him 
I  got  up  in  about  fifteen  or  twenty  feet,  'twas  so 
dark  I  could  n't  tell  the  bear  from  a  dog,  and  I 
started  to  go  to  him ;  but  I  found  out  there  was  a 
creek  between  us.  How  deep  it  was  I  didn't 
know ;  but  it  was  dark,  and  cold,  and  too  late  to 
turn  back  ;  so  I  held  my  rifle  up  and  walked  right 
in.  Before  I  got  across,  the  old  bear  got  loose 
and  shot  for  it,  right  through  the  cane  ;  I  was 
mighty  tired,  but  I  scrambled  out  and  followed  on. 
I  knew  I  was  obliged  to  keep  in  hearing  of  my 
dogs,  or  git  lost. 

"  Well,  I  kept  on,  and  once  in  a  while  I  could 
hear  'em  fighting  and  baying  just  before  me ;  then 
I'd  run  up,  but  before  I'd  get  there,  the  old  bear 
would  git  loose.  I  sometimes  thought  'bout  giving 
up  and  going  back ;  but  while  I'd  be  thinking, 
they'd  begin  to  fight  agin,  and  I'd  run  on.  I  fol- 
lowed him  this  way  'bout,  as  near  as  I  could 
guess,  from  four  to  five  miles,  when  the  old  bear 
could  n't  stand  it  any  longer,  and  took  a  tree ;  and 
I  tell  you  what,  I  was  mighty  glad  of  it. 
i  "  I  went  up,  but  at  first  it  was  so  dark  I  could 
see  nothing ;  however,  after  looking  about,  and 
gitting  the  tree  between  me  and  a  star,  I  could 


84      SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

see  a  very  dark  looking  place,  and  I  raised  up  old 
Betsy,  and  she  lightened.  Down  come  the  old 
bear ;  but  he  was  n't  much  hurt,  for  of  all  the  fights 
you  ever  did  see,  that  beat  all.  I  had  six  dogs, 
and  for  nearly  an  hour  they  kept  rolling  and  tum- 
bling right  at  my  feet.  I  could  n't  see  any  thing 
but  one  old  white  dog  I  had ;  but  every  now  and 
then  the  bear  made  'em  sing  out  right  under  me. 
I  had  my  knife  drawn,  to  stick  him  whenever  he 
should  seize  me  ;  but  after  a  while,  bear,  dogs  and 
all,  rolled  down  a  precipice  just  before  me,  and 
I  could  hear  them  fighting,  like  they  were  in  a 
hole.  I  loaded  Betsy,  laid  down,  and  felt  about  in 
the  hole  with  her  till  I  got  her  agin  the  bear,  and 
I  fired ;  but  I  did  n't  kill  him,  for  out  of  the  hole 
he  bounced,  and  he  and  the  dogs  fought  harder 
than  ever.  I  laid  old  Betsy  down,  and  drew  my 
knife  ;  but  the  bear  and  dogs  just  formed  a  lump, 
rolling  about;  and  presently  down  they  all  went 
again  into  the  hole. 

"  My  dogs  now  began  to  sing  out  mighty  often : 
they  were  getting  tired,  for  it  had  been  the  hardest 
fight  I  ever  saw.  I  found  out  how  the  bear  was 
laying,  and  I  looked  for  old  Betsy  to  shoot  him 
again ;  but  I  had  laid  her  down  somewhere  and 
could  n't  find  her.  I  got  hold  of  a  stick  and  began 
to  punch  him ;  he  did  n't  seem  to  mind  it  much, 
so  I  thought  I  would  git  down  into  the  crack,  and 
kill  him  with  my  knife. 

"  I  considered  some  time  'bout  this  ;  it  was  ten 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.          85 

or  eleven  o'clock,  and  a  cold  winter  night.  I  was 
something  like  thirty  miles  from  any  settlement  ; 
there  was  no  living  soul  near  me,  except  my  friend, 
who  was  in  the  tent,  and  I  did  n't  know  where  that 
was — I  knew  my  bear  was  in  a  crack  made  by 
the  shakes,  but  how  deep  it  was,  and  whether  I 
could  get  out  if  I  got  in,  were  things  I  could  n't 
tell.  I  was  sitting  down  right  over  the  bear, 
thinking ;  and  every  once  in  a  while  some  of  my 
dogs  would  sing  out,  as  if  they  wanted  help ;  so 
I  got  up  and  let  myself  down  in  the  crack  behind 
the  bear.  Where  I  landed  was  about  as  deep  as 
I  am  high ;  I  felt  mighty  ticklish,  and  I  wished  I 
was  out ;  I  could  n't  see  a  thing  in  the  world,  but 
I  determined  to  go  through  with  it.  I  drew  my 
knife  and  kept  feeling  about  with  my  hands  and 
feet  till  I  touched  the  bear ;  this  I  did  very  gently, 
then  got  upon  my  hands  and  knees,  and  inched 
my  left  hand  up  his  body,  with  a  knife  in  my  right, 
till  I  got  pretty  fur  up,  and  I  plunged  it  into  him ; 
he  sunk  down  and  for  a  moment  there  was  a  great 
struggle  ;  but  by  the  time  I  scrambled  out,  every 
thing  was  getting  quiet,  and  my  dogs,  one  at  a 
time,  come  out  after  me  and  laid  down  at  my  feet. 
I  knew  every  thing  was  safe. 

"  It  began  now  to  cloud  up :  'twas  mighty  dark, 
and  as  I  did  n't  know  the  direction  of  my  tent,  I 
determined  to  stay  all  night.  I  took  out  my  flint 
and  steel  and  raised  a  little  fire ;  but  the  wood 
was  so  cold  and  wet  it  would  n't  burn  much.  I 


86      SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

had  sweated  so  much  after  the  bear,  that  I  began 
to  get  very  thirsty,  and  felt  like  I  would  die,  if  I 
did  n't  git  some  water :  so,  taking  a  light  along,  I 
went  to  look  for  the  creek  I  had  waded,  and  as 
good  luck  would  have  it,  I  found  the  creek,  and 
got  back  to  my  bear.  But  from  having  been  in 
a  sweat  all  night,  I  was  now  very  chilly  :  it  was 
the  middle  of  winter,  and  the  ground  was  hard 
frozen  for  several  inches,  but  this  I  had  not  noticed 
before :  I  again  set  to  work  to  build  me  a  fire, 
but  all  I  could  do  could  n't  make  it  burn.  The 
excitement  under  which  I  had  been  labouring  had 
all  died  away,  and  I  was  so  cold  I  felt  very  much 
like  dying  :  but  a  notion  struck  me  to  git  my  bear 
up  out  of  the  crack  ;  so  down  into  it  I  went,  and 
worked  until  I  got  into  a  sweat  again ;  and  just 
as  I  would  git  him  up  so  high,  that  if  I  could  turn 
him  over  once  more  he'd  be  out,  he'd  roll  back. 
I  kept  working,  and.  resting,  and  while  I  was  at 
it,  it  began  to  hail  mighty  fine ;  but  I  kept  on,  and 
in  about  three  hours  I  got  him  out. 

"  I  then  came  up  almost  exhausted :  my  fire 
had  gone  out  and  I  laid  down,  and  soon  fell  asleep; 
but  'twas  n't  long  before  I  waked  almost  frozen. 
The  wind  sounded  mighty  cold  as  it  passed  along 
and  I  called  my  dogs,  and  made  'em  lie  upon  me 
to  keep  me  warm ;  but  it  would  n't  do.  I  thought 
I  ought  to  make  some  exertion  to  save  my  life, 
and  I  got  up,  but  I  don't  know  why  or  wherefore, 
and  began  to  grope  about  in  the  dark ;  the  first 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.          87 

thing  I  hit  agin  was  a  tree:  it  felt  mighty  slick  and 
icy,  as  I  hugged  it,  and  a  notion  struck  me  to 
climb  it ;  so  up  I  started,  and  I  climbed  that  tree 
for  thirty  feet  before  I  came  to  any  limb,  and  then 
slipped  down.  It  was  awful  warm  work.  How 
often  I  climbed  it,  I  never  knew ;  but  I  was  going 
up  and  slipping  down  for  three  or  four  hours,  and 
when  day  first  began  to  break,  I  was  going  up 
that  tree.  As  soon  as  it  was  cleverly  light,  I  saw 
before  me  a  slim  sweet  gum,  so  slick,  that  it  looked 
like  every  rarmunt  in  the  woods  had  been  sliding 
down  it  for  a  month.  I  started  off  and  found  my 
tent,  where  sat  my  companion,  who  had  given  me 
up  for  lost.  I  had  been  distant  about  five  miles ; 
and,  after  resting,  I  brought  my  friend  to  see  the 
bear.  I  had  run  more  perils  than  those  described ; 
had  been  all  night  on  the  brink  of  a  dreadful 
chasm,  where  a  slip  of  a  few  feet  would  have 
brought  about  instant  death.  It  almost  made  my 
head  giddy  to  look  at  the  dangers  I  had  escaped. 
My  friend  swore  he  would  not  have  gone  in  the 
crack  that  night  with  a  wounded  bear,  for  every 
one  in  the  woods.  We  had  as  much  meat  as  we 
could  carry ;  so  we  loaded  our  horses,  and  set  out 
for  home." 


88  SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 


CHAPTER  VII. 

GENTLE  reader,  I  know  of  no  more  agreeable 
way  to  commence  this  chapter,  than  by  giving  you 
another  of  Colonel  Crockett's  Dutch  anecdotes, 
which  he  tells  with  great  humour.  There  lived 
in  one  of  the  mountainous  counties  of  Western 
Virginia,  many  Dutchmen  ;  and  among  them,  one 
named  Henry  Snyder ;  and  there  were  likewise 
two  brothers,  called  George  and  Jake  Fulwiler : 
they  were  all  rich,  and  each  owned  a  mill.  Henry 
Snyder  was  subject  to  slight  fits  of  derangement, 
but  they  were  not  of  such  a  nature  as  to  render 
him  disagreeable  to  any  one.  He  merely  conceived 
himself  to  be  the  Supreme  Ruler  of  the  universe  ; 
and  while  labouring  under  this  infatuation,  had 
himself  a  throne  built,  on  which  he  sat  to  try  the 
causes  of  all  who  offended  him ;  and  passed  them 
off  to  hell  or  heaven,  as  his  humour  prompted — 
he  personating  both  the  character  of  judge  and 
culprit. 

"  It  happened  one  day  that  some  difficulty 
occurred  between  Henry  Snyder  and  the  two 
Fulwilers,  on  account  of  their  mills ;  when,  to  be 
avenged,  Henry  Snyder  took  along  with  him  a 
book  in  which  he  recorded  his  judgments,  and 
mounted  his  throne  to  try  their  causes.  He  was 
heard  to  pass  the  following  judgments. 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.          89 

Having  prepared  himself,  he  called  before  him 
George  Fulwiler. 

"  Shorge  Fulwider,  stand  up.  What  hash  you 
been  doin  in  dis  lower  world  ?" 

"Ah  !  Lort,  Ich  does  not  know." 

"  Well,  Shorge  Fulwider,  has  n't  you  got  a  mill  ?" 

"  Yes,  Lort,  Ich  hash." 

"  Well,  Shorge  Fulwider,  did  n't  you  never  take 
too  much  toll  ?" 

"  Yes,  Lort,  Ich  has — when  der  water  wash 
low,  und  mein  stones  wash  dull,  Ich  take  Icetle 
too  much  toll." 

"  Well,  den,  Shorge  Fulwider,  you  must  go  to 
der  left,  mid  der  goats." 

"  Well,  Shake  Fulwider,  now  you  stand  up. 
What  hash  you  bin  doin  in  dis  lower  world?" 

"  Ah  !  Lort,  Ich  does  not  know." 

"  Well,  Shake  Fulwider,  has  n't  you  got  a  mill?" 

"  Yes,  Lort,  Ich  has." 

"  Well,  Shake  Fulwider,  has  n't  you  never  take 
too  much  toll  ?" 

"  Yes,  Lort,  Ich  hash — when  der  water  wash 
low,  und  mein  stones  wash  dull,  Ich  take  little  too 
much  toll  ?" 

"  Well,  den,  Shake  Fulwider,  you  must  go  to 
der  left,  mid  der  goats." 

"  Now  Ich  tries  mineself.  Henry  Shnyder ! 
Henry  Shnyder  !  stand  up.  What  hash  you  bin 
doin  in  dis  lower  world  ?" 

"  Ah !  Lort,  Ich  does  not  know." 
H  2 


90      SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

"Well,  Henry  Shnyder,  has  n't  you  got  a  mill  V9 

"  Yes,  Lort,  Ich  hash." 

"  Well,  Henry  Shnyder,  did  n't  you  never  take 
too  much  toll  ?" 

"  Yes,  Lort,  Ich  hash — when  der  water  wash 
low,  und  mem  stones  wash  dull,  Ich  hash  take 
leetle  too  much  toll." 
"But,  Henry  Shnyder,  vat  did  you  do  mid  der  toll  V9 

"  Ah  !  Lort,  Ich  gives  it  to  der  poor." 

(Pausing.)  "  Well,  Henry  Shnyder,  you  must 
go  to  der  right  mid  der  sheep ;  but  it  ish  a  tam 
tight  squeeze." 

While  the  colonel  was  a  member  of  the  legisla- 
ture, some  fellow  started  a  report  somewhat  to  his 
prejudice.  After  his  return,  at  the  first  gathering 
he  happened  to  meet  with,  he  called  the  attention 
of  the  company,  and  mounted  a  stump  to  explain  ; 
but  his  choler  getting  the  better  of  his  reason,  he 
jumped  down,  swore  he  would  n't  explain,  but  he'd 
be  d — d  if  he  could  n't  whip  the  man  who  started 
the  report.  He  could  find  no  author,  and  his 
willingness  to  fight  was  taken  as  a  fair  proof  of  his 
innocence. 

Colonel  Crockett  was  already  higher  in  the 
political  world,  than  in  early  life  he  had  ever 
expected  to  be ;  and  had  his  inclination  alone  been 
consulted,  his  fame  would  never  have  reached 
Washington.  He  was  so  much  wedded  to  hunt- 
ing, that,  I  have  no  doubt,  he  looked  upon  it  as  a 
sacrifice  to  exchange  that  pursuit  for  any  other. 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.          91 

The  hunting  stories  which  make  a  part  of  this 
work,  are  literally  in  his  own  style  of  narration ; 
and  of  their  truth  I  have  not  the  least  doubt.  The 
reason  why  the  names  of  his  dogs  are  changed  in 
almost  every  story  is,  that  a  bear  dog,  if  he  fights 
regularly,  is  rarely  good  for  any  thing  longer  than 
one  or  two  seasons. 

Nothing  delights  the  colonel  more  than  to  be 
called  upon  by  strangers  to  make  a  hunting  party ; 
and  with  the  following  one  he  was  much  pleased : 

"  I  was  setting  by  a  good  fire  in  my  little  cabin, 
on  a  cool  November  evening, — roasting  potatoes 
I  believe,  and  playing  with  my  children, — when 
somebody  halloed  at  the  fence.  I  went  out,  and 
there  were  three  strangers,  who  said  they  come 
to  take  an  elk  hunt.  I  was  glad  to  see  'em,  invited 
'em  in,  and  after  supper  we  cleaned  our  guns.  I 
took  down  old  Betsy,  rubbed  her  up,  greased  her, 
and  laid  her  away  to  rest.  She  is  a  mighty  rough 
old  piece,  but  I  love  her,  for  she  and  I  have  seen 
hard  times.  She  mighty  seldom  tells  me  a  lie. 
If  I  hold  her  right,  she  always  sends  the  ball 
where  I  tell  her.  After  we  were  all  fixed,  I  told 
'em  hunting  stories  till  bed  time. 

"  Next  morning  was  clear  and  cold,  and  by  times 
I  sounded  my  horn,  and  my  dogs  come  howling 
'bout  me,  ready  for  a  chase.  Old  Ratler  was  a 
little  lame — a  bear  bit  him  in  the  shoulder ;  but 
Soundwell,  Tiger,  and  the  rest  of  'em  were  all 
mighty  anxious.  We  got  a  bite  and  saddled  our 


92      SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

horses.  I  went  by  to  git  a  neighbour  to  drive  for 
us,  and  off  we  started  for  the  Harricane.  My 
dogs  looked  mighty  wolfish ;  they  kept  jumping 
on  one  another,  and  growling.  I  knew  they  were 
run  mad  for  a  fight,  for  they  had  n't  had  one  in 
two  or  three  days.  We  were  in  fine  spirits  and 
going  'long  through  very  open  woods,  when  one 
of  the  strangers  said,  '  I  would  give  my  horse  now 
to  see  a  bear.'  Said  I,  6  Well,  give  me  your 
horse,'  and  I  pointed  to  an  old  bear  about  three 
or  four  hundred  yards  ahead  of  us,  feeding  on 
acorns.  I  had  been  looking  at  him  for  some  time, 
but  he  was  so  fur  off,  I  was  n't  certain  what  it 
was.  However,  I  hardly  spoke  before  we  all 
strained  off,  and  the  woods  fairly  echoed  as  we 
harked  the  dogs  on.  The  old  bear  did  n't  want 
to  run,  and  he  never  broke  till  we  got  most  upon 
him  ;  but  then  he  buckled  for  it,  I  tell  you.  When 
they  overhauled  him,  he  just  rared  up  upon  his 
hind  legs,  and  he  boxed  the  dogs  'bout  at  a  mighty 
rate.  He  hugged  old  Tiger  and  another  till  he 
dropped  'em  nearly  lifeless;  but  the  others  wor- 
ried him,  and  after  a  while  they  all  come  to,  and 
they  give  him  trouble.  They  are  mighty  apt,  I 
tell  you,  to  give  a  bear  trouble  before  they  leave 
him.  'Twas  a  mighty  pretty  fight — 'twould  have 
done  any  one's  soul  good  to  see  it,  just  to  see  how 
they  all  rolled  about.  It  was  as  much  as  I  could 
do  to  keep  the  strangers  from  shooting  him  ;  but  I 
would  n't  let  'em,  for  fear  they  would  kill  some  of 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.          93 

my  dogs.  After  we  got  tired  seeing  'em  fight,  I 
went  in  among  'em,  and  the  first  time  they  got 
him  clown,  I  socked  my  knife  into  the  old  bear. 
We  then  hung  him  up,  and  went  on  to  take  our 
elk  hunt.  You  never  seed  fellows  so  delighted  as 
them  strangers  was.  Blow  me  if  they  did  n't  cut 
more  capers,  jumping  about,  than  the  old  bear. 
'Twas  a  mighty  pretty  fight,  but  I  b'lieve  I  seed 
more  fun  looking  at  them  than  at  the  bear. 

"  By  the  time  we  got  to  the  Harricane,  we  were 
all  rested  and  ripe  for  a  drive.  My  dogs  were  in 
a  better  humour,  for  the  fight  had  just  taken  off 
the  wiry  edge.  So  I  placed  the  strangers  at  the 
stands  through  which  I  thought  the  elk  would 
pass,  sent  the  driver  way  up  ahead,  and  I  went 
down  below. 

"  Every  thing  wras  quiet,  and  I  leaned  old  Betsy 
'gin  a  tree,  and  laid  down.  I  s'pose  I  had  been 
lying  there  nearly  an  hour,  when  I  heard  old  Ti-* 
ger  open.  He  opened  once  or  twice,  and  old 
Ratler  gave  a  long  howl ;  the  balance  joined  in, 
and  I  knew  the  elk  were  up.  I  jumped  up  and 
seized  my  rifle.  I  could  hear  nothing  but  one  con- 
tinued roar  of  all  my  dogs,  coming  right  towards 
me.  Though  I  was  an  old  hunter,  the  music  made 
my  hair  stand  on  end.  Soon  after  they  first  start- 
ed I  heard  one  gun  go  off,  and  my  dogs  stopped, 
but  not  long,  for  they  took  a  little  tack  towards 
where  I  placed  the  strangers.  One  of  them  fired, 
and  they  dashed  back,  and  circled  round  way  to 


94      SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

my  left.  I  run  down  'bout  a  quarter  of  a  mile, 
and  I  heard  my  dogs  make  a  bend  like  they  were 
coming  to  me.  While  I  was  listening,  I  heard 
the  bushes  breaking  still  lower  down,  and  started 
to  run  there.  As  I  was  going  ?long,  I  seed  two 
elk  burst  out  of  the  Harricane,  'bout  one  hundred 
and  thirty  or  forty  yards  below  me.  There  was 
an  old  buck  and  a  doe.  I  stopped,  waited  till 
they  got  into  a  clean  place,  and  as  the  old  fellow 
made  a  leap,  I  raised  old  Bet,  pulled  trigger,  and 
she  spoke  out.  The  smoke  blinded  me  so  that  I 
could  n't  see  what  I  did  ;  but  as  it  cleared  away, 
I  caught  a  glimpse  of  only  one  of 'em  going  through 
the  bushes  ;  so  I  thought  I  had  the  other.  I  went 
up,  and  there -lay  the  old  buck  a  kicking.  I  cut  his 
throat,  and  by  that  time  Tiger  and  two  of  my  dogs 
come  up.  I  thought  it  singular  that  all  my  dogs 
was  n't  there,  and  I  began  to  think  that  they  had 
•killed  another.  After  the  dogs  had  bit  him,  and 
found  out  he  was  dead,  old  Tiger  began  to  growl, 
and  curled  himself  up  between  his  legs.  Every 
thing  had  to  stand  off  then,  for  he  would  n't  let  the 
devil  himself  touch  him. 

"  I  started  off  to  look  for  the  strangers.  My 
two  dogs  followed  me.  After  gitting  away  a 
piece,  I  looked  back,  and  once  in  a  while  I  could 
see  old  Tiger  git  up  and  shake  the  elk,  to  see  if 
he  was  really  dead,  and  then  curl  up  between  his 
legs  agin.  I  found  the  strangers  round  a  doe  elk 
the  driver  had  killed ;  and  one  of  'em  said  he  was 


COLON2L  DAVID  CROCKETT.         95 

sure  he  had  killed  one  lower  down.  I  asked  him 
if  it  had  horns.  He  said  he  did  n't  see  any.  I 
put  the  dogs  on  where  he  said  he  had  shot,  and 
they  did  n't  go  fur  before  they  came  to  a  halt.  I 
went  up,  and  there  lay  a  fine  buck  elk;  and 
though  his  horns  were  four  or  five  feet  long,  the 
fellow  who  shot  him  was  so  scared,  that  he  never 
saw  them.  We  had  three  elk  and  a  bear;  so  we 
managed  to  git  it  home,  then  butchered  our  game, 
talked  over  our  hunt,  and  had  a  glorious  frolic." 

While  the  colonel  was  a  member  of  the  legisla- 
ture, the  tariff  of '24  was  passed  by  congress ;  and 
the  member  from  his  district  supported  it  contrary 
to  the  wishes  of  his  constituents.  An  opposition 
was  organized,  and  Colonel  David  Crockett  was 
called  upon  by  many  of  the  people  to  become  a 
candidate.  There  were  already  several  in  the 
field,  when  the  colonel,  at  the  warm  solicitation  of 
his  friends,  entered  the  lists.  Now  there  wras  a 
fair  opportunity  for  the  exhibition  of  that  talent  in 
which  he  excelled.  Seventeen  counties  composed 
the  district ;  and  to  be  elected,  his  personal  popu- 
larity had  to  overcome  some  talent  supported  by 
wealth  and  family  influence.  Many  speeches 
were  made,  many  barbecues  were  eaten, — great 
exertions  were  used  by  all  parties ;  and  the  elec- 
tion being  over,  the  returns  showed  that  in  seven- 
teen counties  Colonel  Crockett  had  been  beaten 
two  votes. 

His  friends  have  ever  believed  that  he  was  fairly 


96  SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

elected ;  and  few  of  those  opposed  to  him  have 
been  sceptical  enough  to  doubt  it.  It  has  been 
rumoured  that  the  election  was  conducted  unfair- 
ly ;  and  the  following  circumstance  leaves  a  sus- 
picion amounting  to  too  strong  a  probability.  The 
law  of  elections  required  that  the  ballot  boxes 
should  be  sealed  up  when  the  polls  were  closed, 
and  remain  so  until  the  votes  were  counted  by  the 
judges.  One  of  the  sheriffs,  who  had  been  most 
violent  in  his  opposition  to  the  colonel,  instead  of 
sealing  up  the  ballot  box,  merely  fastened  it  with 
a  wire  hasp  and  carried  it  home,  retaining  it  in 
that  situation  till  the  votes  were  counted.  Now, 
if  .his  opposition  did  not  induce  him  to  take  out  a 
fewr  Crockett  votes,  his  carelessness  left  him  under 
an  imputation  by  no  means  creditable.  Little  doubt 
was  entertained  but  that  Colonel  Crockett  could 
have  been  returned  by  contesting  the  election  ;  but 
he  nobly  said,  "  If  it  was  not  the  wish  of  the  peo- 
ple clearly  expressed,  he  would  not  serve  them." 

Being  once  more  a  private  man,  the  colonel  re- 
turned to  the  bosom  of  his  family  ;  and  as  soon  as 
the  season  would  permit,  occasionally  sought  his 
famous  hunting  ground,  where  he  listened  with 
rapture  to  the  joyous  cry  of  his  dogs,  or  hung  with 
delight  on  the  far  off  echo  of  his  old  friend  Betsy, 
as  she  distributed  her  death-dealing  power  to  the 
beasts  of  the  forest. 

In  December  of  the  year  18 — ,  he  set  out  with 
a  friend  for  a  trip  to  the  Shakes.  The  close  of  day 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.          07 

found  them  putting  up  their  little  tent,  and  storing: 
away  their  provisions.  Their  horses  were  hob- 
bled and  turned  loose,  their  rude  supper  was  pre- 
pared ;  and  a  short  time  found  the  colonel,  his 
friend  and  dogs  stored  away,  and  sleeping  off  the 
heavy  night.  There  was  something  so  wild  in  the 
description  which  the  colonel  gave  me  of  these 
Shakes,  that  I  like  to  dwell  upon  incidents  con- 
nected with  them.  Frequently  would  he  be 
aroused  from  his  sleep  by  the  long  howl  of  a  gang 
of  wolves,  attracted  to  his  tent  by  the  odour  of  his 
provisions — so  many  in  a  gang  as  to  intimidate 
the  boldest ;  at  other  times,  by  the  wild  scream  of 
the  panther. 

No  one,  he  said,  could  tell  the  feeling  which  a 
situation  of  that  sort  brought  about,  to  one  sepa- 
rated as  far  as  he  had  been  from  all  assistance* 
Even  his  dogs  seemed  to  partake  of  his  feelings ; 
for  they  would  get  up  and  come  and  lie  close  to 
him.  The  feeling  was  not  fear,  though  he  had 
cause  to  be  afraid,  from  the  many  accidents  which, 
had  happened.  He  remarked  that  he  had  not 
been  a  settler  long  in  the  Western  District,  when 
a  gentleman  had  occasion  to  send  his  servant  into 
the  woods  for  a  piece  of  timber.  The  servant 
remaining  longer  than  was  thought  necessary,  the 
master  went  to  look  for  him.  He  was  found,  but 
dead,  and  most  shockingly  mangled,  with  five 
wolves  lying  around  him,  which  had  been  killed 
with  the  sharp  part  of  an  axe.  The  ground  bore 


i)8  SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF  **    1 

marks  of  a  most  deadly  and  determined  struggle,, 
and  showed  that  valour  had  yielded  alone  to  num- 
bers. A  large  gang  had  been  attracted  by  the 
.odour  of  his  provisions.  "  Nothing  is  more  com- 
mon," said  he,  "  than  for  wolves,  when  they  meet 
with  a  single  dog,  to  catch  and  eat  him."  ; 

*  But  to  my  tale.  The  next  morning  betimes,  the 
colonel  and  his  friend  were  stirring ;  and  having 
prepared  their  breakfast,  they  set  out  hunting. 

"  I  was  going  'long,"  said  he,  "  down  to  a  little 
-flarricane,  'bout  three  miles  from  our  tent,  \vhere 
I  knew  there  must  be  a  plenty  of  bear.  'Twas 
mighty  cold,  and  my  dogs  were  in  fine  order  and 
very  busy  hunting,  when  I  seed  where  a  piece  of 
bark  had  been  scratched  off  a  tree.  I  said  to  my 
companion,  there  is  a  bear  in  the  hollow  of  this 
tree.  I  examined  the  sign,  and  I  knew  I  was 
right.  I  called  my  dogs  to  me  ;  but  to  git  at  him 
was  the  thing.  The  tree  was  so  large  'twould  take 
all  day  to  cut  it  down,  and  there  was  no  chance 
to  climb  it.  But  upon  looking  about,  I  found 
that  there  was  a  tree  near  the  one  the  bear  was 
in  ;  and  if  I  could  make  it  fall  agin  it,  I  could  then 
climb  up  and  git  him  out.  I  fell  to  work  and  cut 
the  tree  down  ;  but,  as  the  devil  would  have  it,  it 
lodged  before  it  got  there.  So  that  scheme  was 
knocked  in  the  head. 

"  I  then  told  my  companion  to  cut  away  upon 
the  big  tree,  and  I  would  go  off  some  distance  to 
see  if  I  could  n't  see  him.  He  fell  to  work,  and 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.          99 

lie  hadn't  been  at  it  long  before  I  seed  the  old  bear 
poke  his  head  out ;  but  I  could  n't  shoot  him,  for  if 
I  did,  I  would  hit  him  in  the  head,  and  he  would 
fall  backwards;  so  I  had  to  wait  for  him  to  come 
out.  I  did  n't  say  any  thing ;  but  it  wan't  a 
minute  before  he  run  out  upon  a  limb  and  jumped 
down. 

"  I  run  as  hard  as  I  could,  but  before  I  got  there 
he  and  the  dogs  were  hard  at  it.  I  didn't  see 
much  of  the  fight  before  they  all  rolled  down  a 
steep  hill,  and  the  bear  got  loose  and  broke,  right 
in  the  direction  of  the  Harricane.  He  wras  a 
mighty  large  one,  and  I  was  'fraid  my  dogs  would 
lose  him,  'twas  such  a  thick  place.  I  started  after 
him,  and  told  my  friend  to  come  on.  Well,  of  all 
the  thick  places  that  ever  you  did  see,  that  bear 
carried  me  through  some  of  the  thickest.  The  dogs 
would  sometimes  bring  him  to  bay,  and  I  would 
try  for  my  life  to  git  up  to  'em,  but  when  I  would 
get  most  there,  he  would  git  loose.  He  devilled  me 
mightily,  I  tell  you.  I  reckon  I  went  a  mile  after 
that  bear  upon  my  hands  and  knees,  just  creeping 
through  briars,  and  if  I  had  n't  had  deer  leather 
clothes  on,  they  would  have  torn  me  in  pieces. 

"  I  got  wet ;  and  was  mighty  tired  stooping  so 
much.  Sometimes  I  went  through  places  so  thick 
that  I  don't  see  how  any  thing  could  git  through ; 
and  I  don't  b'lieve  I  could,  if  I  had  n't  heard  the 
dogs  fighting  just  before  me.  Sometimes  I  would 
look  back,  and  I  could  n't  see  how  I  got  along. 


100  SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

But  once  I  got  in  a  clear  place  ;  my  dogs,  tired  of 
fighting,  had  brought,  the  bear  again  to  bay,  and  I 
had  my  head  up,  looking  out  to  git  a  shoot,  when 
the  first  thing  I  knew  I  was  up  to  my  breast  in  a 
sink  hole  of  water.  I  was  so  infernal  mad  that  I 
had  a  notion  not  to  git  out ;  but  I  began  to  think 
it  would  n't  spite  any  body,  and  so  I  scrambled 
out.  My  powder  was  all  wet,  except  the  load  in 
my  gun,  and  I  did  n't  know  what  to  do.  I  had 
been  sweating  all  the  morning,  and  I  was  tired, 
and  I  looked  rather  queer  with  my  wet  leather 
clothes  on ;  but  I  harked  my  dogs  on,  and  once 
more  I  heard  'em  fighting.  I  run  on,  and  while  I 
was  going  'long  I  heard  something  jump  in  the 
water.  When  I  got  there,  I  seed  the  bear  going  up 
the  other  bank  of  the  Obion  river — I  had  n't  time 
to  shoot  him  before  he  was  out  of  sight — he  looked 
mighty  tired.  When  I  come  to  look  at  my  dogs, 
I  could  hardly  help  from  crying.  Old  Tiger  and 
Brutus  were  sitting  upon  the  edge  of  the  water, 
whining  because  they  couldn't  git  over;  and  I 
had  a  mighty  good  dog  named  Carlow, — he  was 
standing  in  the  water  ready  to  swim ;  and  I  ob- 
served as  the  water  passed  by  him  it  was  right 
red, — he  was  mighty  badly  cut.  When  I  come 
to  notice  my  other  dogs,  they  were  all  right  bloody, 
and  it  made  me  so  mad  that  I  harked  'em  on,  and 
determined  to  kill  the  bear. 

"  I  hardly  spoke  to  'em  before  there  was  a  gene- 
ral plunge,  and  each  of  my  dogs  just  formed  a 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.        101 

streak  going  straight  across.  I  watched  'em  till 
they  got  out  on  the  bank,  when  they  all  shook 
themselves,  old  Carlow  opened,  and  off  they  all 
started.  I  sat  down  upon  an  old  log.  The  water 
was  right  red  where  my  dogs  jumped  in,  and  I 
loved  'em  so  much  it  made  me  mighty  sorry. 
When  I  come  to  think  how  willingly  they  all 
jumped  in  when  I  told  'em,  though  they  were 
badly  cut  and  tired  to  death,  I  thought  I  ought  to 
go  and  help  'em. 

"  It  was  now  about  twelve  o'clock.  My  dogs 
had  been  running  ever  since  sunrise,  and  we  had 
all  passed  through  a  harricane,  which  of  itself  was 
a  day's  work.  I  could  hear  nothing  of  my  com- 
panion ;  I  whooped,  but  there  was  no  answer  ;  and 
I  concluded  that  he  had  been  unable  to  follow  me, 
and  had  gone  back  to  the  tent.  I  looked  up  and 
down  the  river,  to  see  if  there  was  a  chance  to 
cross  it ;  but  there  was  none — no  canoe  was  with- 
in miles  of  me.  While  I  was  thinking  of  all  these 
things  my  dogs  were  trailing ;  but  all  at  once  I 
heard  'em  fighting.  I  jumped  up — I  hardly  knew 
what  to  do,  when  a  notion  struck  me  to  roll  in  the 
log  I  had  been  sitting  on,  and  cross  over  on  that. 
'Twas  a  part  of  an  old  tree,  twelve  or  fifteen  feet 
long,  lying  on  a  slant.  I  gave  it  a  push,  and  into 
the  water  it  went.  I  got  an  old  limb,  straddled  the 
log,  with  my  feet  in  the  water,  and  pushed  off. 
''Twas  mighty  ticklish  work :  I  had  to  lay  the  limb 
across,  like  a  balance  pole,  to  keep  me  from  turn- 

I  2 


102     SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

ing  over,  and  then  paddle  with  the  hand  that 
wasn't  holding  the  rifle.  The  log  didn't  float 
good,  and  the  water  came  up  over  my  thighs. 
After  a  while  I  got  over  safe,  fastened  my  old  log 
to  go  back  upon,  and  as  I  went  up  the  bank  I 
heard  my  dogs  tree.  I  run  to  'em  as  fast  as  I 
could  ;  and  sure  enough  I  saw  the  old  bear  up  in  a 
crotch.  My  dogs  were  all  lying  down  under  him, 
andJ  don't  know  which  was  the  most  tired,  they 
or  the  bear.  .  » 

"  I  knew  I  had  him,  so  I  just  sat  down  and 
rested  a  little ;  and  then,  to  keep  my  dogs  quiet, 
I  got  up,  and  old  Betsy  thundered  at  him.  I  shot 
him  right  through  the  heart,  and  he  fell  without  a 
struggle.  I  run  up  and  stuck  my  knife  into  him 
several  times  up  to  the  hilt,  just  because  he  devil- 
led me  so  much ;  but  I  had  hardly  pulled  it  out 
before  I  was  sorry,  for  he  had  fought  all  day  like 
a  man,  and  would  have  got  clear  but  for  me. 

"  I  noticed  when  the  other  dogs  jumped  on  him 
to  bite  him,  old  Carlow  did  n't  git  up.  I  went  to 
him,  and  saw  a  right  smart  puddle  of  blood  under 
him.  He  was  cut  into  the  hollow,  and  I  saw  he 
was  dying— nothing  could  save  him.  While  I 
was  feeling  'bout  him,  he  licked  my  hand ; — my 
eyes  filled  with  tears  ; — I  turned  my  head  away, 
and  to  ease  his  sufferings,  plunged  my  knife 
through  his  heart.  He  yelled  out  his  death  note, 
and  the  other  dogs  tried  to  jump  upon  .him :  such 
is  the  nature  of  a  dog.  This  is  all  I  hate  in  bear 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.        103 

hunting.  I  did  n't  get  over  the  death  of  my  dog 
in  some  time  ;  and  I  have  a  right  to  love  him  to 
this  day,  for  no  man  ever  had  a  better  friend. 

"  After  resting  awhile,  I  fell  to  work  and  butch- 
ered my  bear — I  think  he  was  the  largest  I  ever 
saw.  Then  what  to  do,  I  did  n't  know.  I  was 
about,  as  near  as  I  could  tell,  four  miles  from  the 
tent,  and  there  was  a  river  between  us.  To  leave 
my  bear  I  could  n't  do,  after  working ,  so  hard  ; 
but  how  to  git  him  across,  was  the  question. 
Finally  I  determined  to  carry  him  over  on  the 
same  log  I  crossed  on.  I  cut  him  up,  threw  away 
some  of  him,  and  brought  at  four  turns  as  much 
as  I  could  tote,  (earn/,)  and  put  it  on  the  bank. 
The  river  was  about  three  hundred  yards  from 
where  I  killed  the  bear ;  and  'twas  hard  work  to 
git  him  there,  I  tell  you.  After  I  got  it  there  I 
put  a  piece  on  my  log,  straddled  it,  and  brought 
it  over ;  then  went  back,  and  kept  doing  this  way 
till  I  brought  it  all  over.  But  'twas  a  d — 1  of  a 
frolic,  and  I  paid  mighty  dear  for  my  meat.  I 
packed  it  away  in  the  crotch  of  a  tree,  to  keep 
any  thing  from  troubling  it,  and  started  for  my 
tent.  The  sun  was  most  down ;  and  though  ft 
was  a  cold  winter  day,  and  I  had  been  wet  all  the 
time,  I  was  n't  cold  much.  I  think  that  was  the 
hardest  day's  work  I  ever  had  ;  and  why  some  of 
my  frolics  have  n't  killed  me,  I  don't  know." 

I  asked  the  colonel  if  he  had  crossed  many 
rivers  in  that  way.    He  said  never  before  that 


104    SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

time,  but  since  then  he  had  crossed  them  a  hun- 
dred times ;  says  he,  "  I  just  roll  a  chunk  in/ 
straddle  it,  and  over  I  go." 

"  But  to  go  on  with  my  tale.  I  got  to  my  tent 
an  hour  or  two  in  the  night,  where  I  found  my 
companion  with  a  good  fire :  he  seemed  mighty 
glad  to  see  me,  for  he  did  n't  like  staying  there 
by  himself.  I  told  him  what  sort  of  a  day  I  had 
had  of  it,  and  he  could  hardly  Vlieve  me  ;  so  I  told 
him  I  would  take  him  next  morning,  and  show 
him.  I  then  dried  myself,  got  warm,  and  went  to 
sleep.  Next  morning  we  got  our  pack  horses  and 
went  after  my  bear ;  'twas  all  safe,  and  we  brought 
it  to  our  tent  and  salted  it  away.  My  dogs 
^ere  so  much  worsted  by  the  fight  they  had  had 
the  day  before,  and  I  was  so  sore  from  it,  that  we 
concluded  not  to  hunt  any  more  that  day.  My 
powder  was  all  spoiled ;  my  friend  hadn't  much  ; 
so  next  morning,  instead  of  going  hunting,  we 
bundled  up  all  our  things  and  set  out  for  home. 
^Twas  more  than  a  day's  journey ;  so  the  first 
night  we  camped  about  ten  miles  from  my  house. 
Having  no  powder  at  home,  I  told  my  friend  if  he 
would  stay  in  the  tent  till  I  come  back,  I  would 
go  over  the  river  to  a  little  store,  about  twenty 
miles  off,  for  a  keg  of  powder  which  the  merchant 
had  promised  to  git  for  me.  He  agreed  to  do  it; 
and  the  next  morning  I  left  my  dogs  with  him  and 
went  down  to  the  river,  where  I  knew  there  was 
a  crossing  place.  I  got  down  pretty  early,  and 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.         105 

the  log  I  expected  to  cross  on  was  almost  under 
water,  and  the  river  still  a  rising ;  but  I  thought 
as  I  was  so  far  on  my  way,  I  would  go  over.  The 
log  did  n't  reach  all  the  way  across,  but  where  it 
stopped  a  small  tree  grew  up  and  leaned  over  the 
bank,  so  that  when  I  quit  the  log  I  had  been  walk- 
ing on,  I  had  to  climb  the  little  tree  to  git  to  the 
bank.  I  fastened  my  rifle  to  my  back,  climbed 
up,  and  got  over  safe.  I  noticed  all  these  things, 
because  I  knew  I'd  have  to  wade  when  I  come 
back.  ; 

"  Well,  off  I  went  to  the  store ;  I  got  there  just 
about  sundown,  and  met  with  a  right  jolly  set :  so 
instead  of  going  back,  I  staid  there  and  frolicked 
with  them,  and  made  shooting  matches  for  two  or 
three  days.  I  then  got  my  powder,  and  one  morn- 
ing before  day,  started  off  for  my  tent.  The 
weather  had  turned  much  colder  while  I  had  been 
absent,  and  a  smart  snow  had  fallen,  which  made 
it  mighty  bad  walking.  I  got  to  the  river  about 
two  hours  by  sun,  and  as  I  expected,  the  river  had 
risen  and  my  log  was  covered.  The  water  had 
risen  considerably,  but  I  did  n't  know  how  much : 
I  knew  it  would  n't  do  to  stay  there,  for  J  should 
freeze ;  there  was  no  log  to  float  across  on,  and 
my  only  chance  was  to  git  back  as  I  got  over.  I 
slung  my  keg  of  powder  to  my  back  and  climbed 
down  the  little  tree  till  I  got  to  my  log ;  this  I 
found  by  feeling,  and  the  water  was  about  three 
feet  over  it.  I  kept  feeling  'long,  and  got  over 


106     SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

safe ;  'twas  a  mighty  trying  time  ;  for  right  under 
the  log  was  twenty  feet  deep,  and  if  I  had  made 
one  false  step,  'twould  all  have  been  over  with 
David  Crockett. 

"  I  had  left  old  Betsy  on  the  other  side,  so  I  had 
to  go  back  for  her.  and  pursue  the  same  plan  to 
git  over ;  I  got  ready  to  start  agin  in  about  an 
hour,  and  I  then  had  to  go  through  a  wide  swamp 
to  strike  the  path  leading  to  my  tent.  The  water, 
from  the  rise  in  the  river,  was  all  over  the  swamp, 
and  I  had  to  wade  all  the  time ;  and  what  made 
it  worse,  there  \vas  ice  all  over,  which  was  n't 
strong  enough  to  bear  my  weight,  but  made  it 
mighty  hard  to  git  along.  Just  as  I  had  started 
off,  I  saw  where  something  had  broke  the  ice,  and 
n  notion  struck  me  'twas  a  bear,  and  I  determined 
to  follow  it.  I  kept  on  about  a  mile,  most  of  my 
time  knee  deep  in  water,  when  I  struck  the  high- 
land, and  I  found  I  was  right  in  the  path  to  my 
tent;  and  what  I  thought  was  a  bear,  was  some 
friends  who  had  been  down  to  the  river  to  look 
for  me.  I  took  their  tracks,  and  about  dark  I  got 
to  my  tent ;  't\vas  full  of  people,  and  they  were 
mighty  glad  to  see  me.  I  had  staid  away  so  long, 
that  my  friends  thought  some  accident  had  hap- 
pened to  me,  and  had  gone  to  my  house  to  git 
help  to  look  for  me.  They  told  me  that  my 
family  was  in  a  great  disturbance,  believing  I  had 
been  drowned ;  so  to  quiet  'em,  we  all  bundled 
irp  and  went  to  my  house  that  night." 


•   COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT-        107 


CHAPTER  VIIL 

READER!  let  you  and  me  hold  a  small  confab*. 
My  narrative  has,  before  this,  placed  Colonel 
Crockett  in  situations,  the  truth  of  which,  perhaps, 
you  have  doubted ;  but,  nevertheless,  it  is  all  true  ^ 
and  the  work,  as  far  as  it  goes,  has  been,  and  will 
continue  to  be,  an  unvarnished  picture  of  his  life. 
So  many  incidents  of  an  amusing  nature  have 
occurred  to  him,  that  it  will  be  impossible  for  ine 
to  give  more  than  a  mere  sample.  Many  of  his 
queerest  fantasies  have  no  doubt  been  lost ;  but 
this  chapter  will  place  him  in  a  situation,  to  say 
the  least  of  it,  novel  in  the  extreme.  You  know 
I  told  you  David  was  always  a  quirky  boy ;  and 
now,  to  try  your  talent  at  guessing,  I  will  tender 
you  a  copy  of  this  work  if  you  will  divine  where 
Colonel  Crockett,  in  narrating  a  hunting  story, 
will  in  truth  place  himself. 

But  before  we  commence  his  hunting  story,  let 
us  merely  for  variety's  sake,  take  another  of  his 
Dutch  anecdotes. 

"  Well,  I  knew  a  young  Dutchman  once  who- 
was  pretty  well  off,  and  who  having,  as  he  said, 
finished  his  edecation,  was  swelling  very  largely. 
He  had  been  riding  about  for  some  time,  attend- 
ing all  the  frolics  in  his  reach,  and  came  over  tD 
an  uncle  of  his  where  I  happened  to  be.  His  uncte 


108  SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

said,  6  veil,  Shon,  vere  you  bin  V  i  Bin  riding 
*bout  to  see  der  vorld.  Und  uncle,  vat  you  tink, 
I  bin  down  to  Yacop  Ransowers,  to  von  great  big 
veddin,  und  dere  vas  a  heaps  of  folks  dere,  un  ve 
all  trink,  un  eat,  an  after  tinner,  tey  all  said  com- 
pliments ;  some  said, '  much  good  may  do  you,'  un 
some  said,  'little  vont  sarve  me  ;'  so  it  come  to  my 
time,  un  I  'tots  I  must  speak  compliments  too ;  un 
I  jus  rose  up,  un  if  I  did  n't  say, '  who  keeps  house, 
cot  tarn  me  V  "  The  above  story  was  told  in  the 
loud  swelling  language  of  the  young  Dutchman, 
who  I  have  no  doubt  thought  he  had  performed  a 
wonderful  feat  when  he  spoke  his  compliments  too  ! 

Having  disposed  of  the  Dutch  anecdote,  we  will 
now  take  the  hunting  story. 

"Well,  I  had  been  at  home  some  time — the 
weather  was  so  cold  I  did  n't  care  much  'bout 
hunting,  and  Rees  and  a  friend  of  his  come  over 
to  my  house  one  evening,  and  asked  me  if  I  did  n't 
want  to  go  down  to  the  Shakes  and  take  a  bear 
hunt.  I  told  'em  I  did  n't  care  much  about  it ; 
but  if  they  wranted  to  go,  I'd  go  with  'em:  so  next 
morning  we  fixed  up,  got  our  pack  horses,  and 
off  we  started  for  the  Shakes.  We  pitched  our 
tent  right  on  the  bank  of  one  of  those  lakes  made 
by  the  Shakes,  and  commenced  hunting :  we  were 
tolerably  successful:  there  was  nothing  strange 
about  any  of  our  hunts,  only  bear  hunting  is 
always  the  hardest  work  a  man  can  be  at.  We 
killed  our  game  and  salted  it  away  as  usual,  and 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.         109 

on  the  third  day  'twas  so  cold,  and  there  was 
so  much  snow  on  the  ground,  that  we  all  came  to 
our  tent  earlier  than  usual ;  we  made  us  a  good 
fire  and  were  lying  'round  it,  when  Mr.  Mars, 
who  had  been  to  Mill's  Point,  rode  up.  He  got 
down  and  told  us  that  he  was  obliged  to  be  at  the 
land  office  very  early  next  morning,  and  if  we 
would  set  him  across  the  lake  there  'twould  save 
him  the  trouble  of  riding  'round  it,  which  was 
about  twenty  miles  out  of  his  way.  There  was 
an  old  flat  lying  on  shore ;  but  we  all  told  him  we 
could  n't ;  'twas  too  cold,  and  we  were  tired.  But 
he  kept  begging  us,  saying  he  was  obliged  to  be 
there  ;  and  after  awhile  he  pulled  out  a  bottle  of 
whiskey  and  passed  it  'round.  We  soon  emptied 
it,  and  it  made  me  feel  in  a  heap  better  humour : 
so  when  Mars  fell  to  persuading  us  agin,  I  said 
I'd  set  him  across,  if  one  of  the  others  would  help 
me.  Rees  said  he  would,  and  Mars  being  in  a 
great  hurry,  we  went  down  to  the  lake,  and  getting 
his  horse  in,  we  pushed  off.  'Twas  a  mighty 
rough  establishment,  oars  and  all.  The  oars  were 
covered  with  ice,  and  the  old  flat  had  a  good  deal 
of  snow  in  it,  and  she  leaked  mighty  badly ;  but  I 
thought  she  would  carry  us  over ;  so  after  we  had 
started  off,  Mars  said  if  we  carried  him  straight 
across  he  would  have  to  swim  a  slue,  and  there 
was  so  much  mushy  ice  in  it,  he  did  n't  believe  he 
could  git  his  horse  across ;  but  if  we  would  land 
him  up  the  lake  he  could  get  on  safe.  To  go 
K 


« 

110  SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

straight  across  was  about  a  mile,  but  to  go  where 
Mars  wanted  us  was  about  three.  However,  we 
were  all  in  a  right  good  humour,  and  the  sun  was 
rather  better  than  two  hours  high ;  so  we  agreed 
to  land  him  where  he  wished. 
•  "  We  pulled  away,  and  just  as  we  got  about  the 
middle  of  the  lake,  his  horse  made  some  motion 
in  the  boat,  and  set  her  to  leaking  worse  than  be- 
fore. I  told  Mars  she'd  sink  if  he  didn't  bail  her: 
so  he  took  his  hat  and  went  to  work.  We  pulled 
as  hard  as  we  could,  and  Mars  worked  mighty 
hard  ;  but  the  water  run  in  as  fast  as  he  could  get 
it  out.  By  and  by,  though,  we  got  to  the  bank, 
and  just  as  Mars  went  to  lead  his  horse  out,  the 
whole  bottom  went  down.  It  had  only  been 
pinned  on,  and  the  weight  of  the  horse  broke  it 
loose.  Rees  and  I  was  a  little  wet,  and  when  we 
got  upon  the  bank  we  did  n't  know  what  to  do. 
Mars  looked  half  frozen  with  his  wet  hat,  and  his 
horse  was  shivering :  he  had  to  ride  about  fifteen 
miles,  or  a  little  upwards,  before  he  could  get  to  a 
house  ;  and  we  were  there  without  a  horse,  sepa- 
rated by  a  lake  from  our  tent,  and  had  nothing  to 
strike  fire.  Mars  said  he  could  do  nothing  for  us, 
for  he  was  all  but  froze,  and  must  go  on,  as  he  had 
a  long  way  to  ride,  and  'twas  getting  late.  I  told 
him  'twas  n't  worth  while  for  him  to  stay,  and  off 
he  started.  We  looked  at  him  till  he  got  out  of 
sight,  and  we  didn't  know  what  to  do.  Well, 
there  was  Rees  and  I  shivering;  and  we  must 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.         HI 

either  get  back  to  our  tent,  or  freeze  to  death.  I 
recollected  there  was,  right  opposite  to  where  we 
started  from,  a  canoe  ;  but  'twas  two  miles  to  that 
place,  and  then  to  get  to  it,  we  would  have  to  cross 
the  very  slue  which  Mars  had  been  afraid  of  swim- 
ming. This  was  the  only  chance.  I  told  Rees 
'twas  n't  worth  while  to  consider — that  there  was 
no  two  ways  about  it — we  must  do  it  or  die.  So 
off  we  started.  When  we  got  to  the  slue,  'twas 
as  Mars  said,  covered  with  mushy  ice,  and  about 
thirty  or  forty  yards  across.  We  were  mighty 
cold,  and  it  made  the  chills  run  over  me  to  look  at 
it.  I  called  to  Rces,  and  told  him,  as  he  was 
tallest,  he  must  go  first.  He  didn't  speak,  but 
waded  right  in ;  he  seemed  to  think  'twas  death 
any  how,  and  was  resigned  to  his  fate.  I  watched 
him  as  he  went  along.  Jt  kept  getting  deeper 
and  deeper,  till  for  nearly  twenty  yards  he  walk- 
ed along  with  nothing  out  but  his  head.  After  he 
got  out,  I  started  in,  and  for  nearly  twenty  yards 
I  had  to  tiptoe,  and  throw  my  head  back,  and  the 
ice  just  come  along  up  to  my  ears — 'twas  this 
soft  ice  made  of  snow.  I  didn't  speak  ;  we  were 
too  near  dead  to  joke  each  other.  We  went  down 
to  the  lake,  and  there  we  found  the  canoe.  'Twas 
nearly  full  of  snow  and  water,  and  I  set  to  work 
to  clean  her  out ;  and  when  I  thought  'twould  an- 
swer, I  called  to  Rees  to  come  on.  He  didn't 
answer  me,  and  I  went  to  him  and  shook  him — but 
he  was  fast  asleep.  I  endeavoured  to  rouse  him 


SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

up,  but  I  could  n't  make  him  understand  any  thing ; 
so  I  dragged  him  along,  and  laid  him  in  the  canoe. 
I  then  straddled  one  end  of  it,  put  my  legs  as  deep 
as  I  could  in  the  water  to  keep  them  from  freezing, 
and  paddled  over.  Our  friend  we  had  left  at  the 
tent  had  a  fine  fire.  I  could  see  it  some  time  be- 
fore I  got  ashore,  and  it  looked  mighty  good.  He 
had  been  preparing  for  us,  as  he  knew  we  would 
be  very  cold  when  we  got  back.  I  hailed  him,  as 
I  run  the  canoe  ashore,  to  come  and  take  out 
Rees ;  for,  says  I,  I  believe  he  is  dead.  I  got  up, 
and  thought  I  would  jump  out,  and  started  to  do 
so ;  but  I  came  very  near  breaking  my  neck,  for 
I  could  n't  step  more  than  about  six  inches.  I  got 
out;  I  couldn't  do  any  good  by  staying  there, 
and  I  left  my  friend  pulling  poor  Rees  out,  and 
started  for  the  fire.  I  soon  got  to  walking  right 
good,  and  felt  the  fire  before  I  got  to  it.  But  I 
was  hardly  at  it  before  I  began  to  burn  all  over. 
I  kept  turning  round — my  pains  only  grew  worse. 
I  was  suffering  torments  worse  than  death,  and  I 
quit  the  fire.  I  turned  towards  the  canoe.  Our 
companion  had  poor  Rees  in  his  arms,  his  feet 
dragging  the  snow,  coming  towards  the  fire.  I 
did  n't  say  any  thing  to  him,  for  I  did  n't  know 
what  to  say ;  but  while  I  was  looking  on,  I  recol- 
lected that  there  was  a  mighty  big  spring  not  fur 
off;  and  a  notion  struck  me  to  go  and  git  into  it. 
The  sun  was  just  down,  and  the  sky  looked  red 
and  cold,  as  I  started  off  for  the  spring.  When  I 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.        113 

got  there  I  put  my  legs  in,  and  it  felt  so  warm  that 
I  sat  right  flat  down  in  it — and  I  bent  down,  so  as 
to  leave  nothing  out  but  my  mouth  and  the  upper 
part  of  my  head.  You  don't  know  how  good  I 
did  feel.  I  was  n't  cold  any  where  but  my  head. 
I  sometimes  think  now  of  that  frolic ;  and  I  believe 
the  happiest  time  I  ever  spent  was  while  I  was  in 
that  spring.  I  felt  like  I  was  coming  to ;  'twas  so 
warm,  and  every  tiling  around  me  looked  so  cold. 
How  long  I  remained  there  I  don't  know;  but  I 
think  an  hour  or  two :  'twas  quite  dark  when  I 
got  out.  I  went  to  my  tent,  and  there  I  saw  poor 
Rees  wrapped  up  in  some  blankets  and  laid  before 
the  fire,  his  friend  watching  over  him.  He  was 
dull  and  stupid,  and  had  not  spoken.  The  fire 
had  no  other  effect  upon  me  than  to  make  me  feel 
comfortable.  I  took  off  my  clothes,  got  dry, 
went  to  sleep,  and  never  experienced  any  incon- 
venience. But  all  our  attention  could  not  get 
poor  Rees  entirely  well.  We  stayed  with  him 
two  or  three  days,  and  then  carried  him  home ; 
but  he  never  walked  afterwards.  That  frolic 
sickened  me  with  hunting  for  one  while." 


K2 


. ' '.-  •„ 


114    SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OP 


CHAPTER  IX. 

To  give  my  readers  a  better  idea  of  the  charac- 
ter of  Colonel  Crockett,  I  have  here  sketched  for 
them  my  first  interview  with  him. 

Some  time  in  the  month  of ,  in  the  year 

,  while  travelling  through  the  Western  Dis- 
trict, I  heard  Colonel  Crockett,  or  the  great  bear 
hunter,  so  frequently  mentioned, — and  with  his 
name  were  associated  so  many  humourous  anec- 
dotes,— that  I  determined  to  visit  him.  Obtaining 
directions,  I  left  the  high  road  and  sought  his  resi- 
dence. My  route,  for  many  miles,  lay  through  a 
country  uninteresting  from  its  samenesss ;  and  I 
found  myself  on  the  morning  of  the  third  day 
within  eight  miles  of  Colonel  Crockett's.  Having 
refreshed  myself  and  horse,  I  set  but  to  spend  the 
remainder  of  the  day  with  him — pursuing  a  small 
blazed  trail,  which  bore  no  marks  of  being  often 
travelled,  and  jogged  on,  wondering  what  sort  of  a 
reception  I  should  meet  with  from  a  man  who,  by 
quirky  humours  unequalled,  had  obtained  for  him- 
self a  never-dying  reputation. 

The  character  which  had  been  given  of  the 
colonel,  both  by  his  friends  and  foes,  induced  me 
to  hope  for  a  kind  welcome  ;  but  doubting, — for  I 
still  believed  him  a  bear  in  appearance, — I  pur- 
sued my  journey  until  a  small  opening  brought 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.         115 

me  in  sight  of  a  cabin  which,  from  description,  I 
identified  as  the  home  of  the  celebrated  hunter  of 
the  West.  ' 

It  was   in   appearance   rude    and    uninviting, 
situated  in  a  small  field  of  eight  or  ten  acres, 
which  had  been  cleared  in  the  wild  woods ;  no 
yard  surrounded  it,  and  it  seemed  to  have  been 
lately  settled.     In  the  passage  of  the  house  were 
seated  two  men  in  their   shirt  sleeves,  cleaning 
rifles.     I  strained  my  eyes  as  I  rode  up  to  see  if  I 
could  identify  in  either  of  them  the  great  bear 
hunter :  but  before  I  could  decide,  my  horse  had 
stopped  at  the  bars,  and  there  walked  out,  in  plain 
homespun  attire,  with  a  black  fur  cap  on,  a  finely 
proportioned  man,  about  six  feet  high,  aged,  from 
appearance,    forty-five.      His    countenance    was 
frank  and  manly,  and  a  smile  played  over  it  as  he 
approached  me.     He  brought  with  him  a  rifle, 
and  from  his  right  shoulder  hung  a  bag  made  of  a 
raccoon  skin,  to  which,  by  means  of  a  sheath,  was 
appended  a  huge  butcher's  knife.     "  This  is  Colo- 
nel Crockett's  residence,  I  presume  V9   "  Yes,  siiv'r 
*'  Have  I  the  pleasure  of  seeing  that  gentleman 
before  me  ?"     "  If  it  be  a  pleasure,  you  have,  sir." 
u  Well,  Colonel,  I  have  rode  much  out  of  my  way 
to  spend  a  day  or  two  with  you,  and  take  a  hunt." 
"  Get  down,  sir ;  I  am  delighted  to  see  you;  I  like 
to  see  strangers :  and  the  only  care  I  have  is,  that 
I  cannot  accommodate  them  as  well  as  I  could 
wish.     I  have  no  corn ;  you  see  I've  but  lately 


116  SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

moved  here ;  but  I'll  make  my  little  boy  take  your 
horse  over  to  my  son-in-law's  ;  he  is  a  good  fellow, 
and  will  take  care  of  him."  Walking  in, — "  my 
brother,  let  me  make  you  acquainted  with  Mr. 
,  of ;  my  wife,  Mr. ;  my  daugh- 
ters, Mr. .  You  see,  we  are  mighty  rough 

here.  I  am  afraid  you  will  think  it  hard  times, 
but  we  have  to  do  the  best  we  can.  I  started 
mighty  poor,  and  have  been  rooting  'long  ever 
since ;  but  d — n  apologies,  I  hate  'em ;  what  I 
live  upon  always,  I  think  a  friend  can  for  a  day 
or  two.  I  have  but  little,  but  that  little  is  as  free 
as  the  water  that  runs — so  make  yourself  at  home. 
Here  are  newspapers,  and  some  books." 

His  free  mode  of  conversation  made  me  feel 
quite  easy ;  and  a  few  moments  gave  me  leisure  to 
look  around.  His  cabin  within  was  clean  and  neat, 
and  bore  about  it  many  marks  of  comfort.  The 
many  trophies  of  wild  animals  spread  over  his 
house  and  yard — his  dogs,  in  appearance  war- 
worn veterans,  lying  about  sunning  themselves — 
all  told  truly  that  I  was  at  the  home  of  the  cele- 
brated hunter. 

His  family  were  dressed  by  the  work  of  their 
own  hands ;  and  there  was  a  neatness  and  sim- 
plicity in  their  appearance  very  becoming.  His 
wife  was  rather  grave  and  quiet,  but  attentive 
and  kind  to  strangers  ;  his  daughters  diffident  and 
retiring,  perhaps  too  much  so,  but  uncommonly 
beautiful ;  and  are  fine  specimens  of  the  native 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.         117 

worth  of  the  female  character — for,  entirely  un- 
educated, they  are  not  only  agreeable  but  fascin- 
ating. There  are  no  schools  near  them,  yet  they 
converse  well — and  if  they  did  not  one  would  be 
apt  to  think  so,  for  they  are  extremely  pretty,  and 
tender  to  a  stranger,  with  so  much  kindness,  the 
comforts  of  their  little  cabin.  The  colonel  has  no 
slaves;  his  daughters  attend  to  the  dairy  and 
kitchen,  while  he  performs  the  more  laborious 
duties  of  his  farm.  He  has  but  lately  moved 
where  he  now  resides,  and  consequently  had  to 
fix  anew.  He  took  me  over  his  little  field  of 
corn,  which  he  himself  had  cleared  and  grubbed, 
talked  of  the  quantity  he  should  make,  his  peas, 
pumpkins,  etc.  with  the  same  pleasure  that  a  Mis- 
sissippi planter  would  have  shown  me  his  cotton 
estate,  or  a  James  river  Virginia  planter  have 
carried  me  over  his  wide  inheritance. 

The  newspapers  being  before  us,  called  up  the 
subject  of  politics.  I  held  in  high  estimation  the 
present  administration  of  our  country.  To  this  he 
was  opposed.  His  views,  however,  delighted  me ; 
and,  were  they  more  generally  adopted,  we  should 
be  none  the  loser.  He  was  opposed  to  the  admin- 
istration, and  yet  conceded  that  many  of  its  acts 
were  wise  and  efficient,  and  would  have  received 
his  cordial  support.  He  admired  Mr.  Clay,  but 
had  objections  to  him.  He  was  opposed  to  the 
tariff,  yet,  I  think,  a  supporter  of  the  bank.  He 
seemed  to  have  the  most  horrible  objection  to 


118     SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

binding  himself  to  any  man,  or  set  of  men.  He 
said  he  would  as  lieve  be  an  old  'coon  dog,  as 
obliged  to  do  what  any  man,  or  set  of  men,  would 
tell  him  was  right.  The  present  administration 
he  would  support  as  far  as  he  would  any  other ; 
and  that  was,  as  far  as  he  believed  its  views  to  be 
correct.  He  would  pledge  himself  to  support  no 
administration — when  the  will  of  his  constituents 
was  known  to  him,  it  was  his  law;  when  unknown, 
his  judgment  was  his  guide.  I  remarked  to  him, 
that  his  district  was  so  thorough-going  for  Jackson, 
I  thought  he  would  never  be  elected.  He  said, 
"  he  did  n't  care  ;  he  believed  his  being  left  out 
was  of  service  to  him,  for  it  had  given  him  time 
to  go  to  work ;  he  had  cleared  his  corn  field,  dug 
a  well,  built  his  cabins,"  etc. ;  and  says  he,  "  if  they 
won't  elect  me  with  my  opinions,  I  can't  help  it. 
I  had  rather  be  politically  damned  than  hypocriti- 
cally immortalized''  He  spoke  very  highly  of 
Benton,  and  was  delighted  with  P.  P.  Barbour, 
whom  he  would  have  preferred  for  president  to 
Jackson  or  Clay;  and  of  whom  he  remarked,  "I'll 
be  d — d  if  Barb6ur  ain't  as  quick  as  Duponf  s 
treble."  He  spoke  with  much  pleasure  of  his 
former  acquaintances  at  Washington,  and  assigned, 
at  my  instance,  the  reasons  why  he  was  beaten  at 
the  last  election ;  but  they  were  better  summed 
up  by  an  Irish  gentleman,  with  whom  I  had  the 
pleasure  of  conversing  while  in  the  District.  He 
said,  "  'twas  a  poor  bate  that,  to  be  baten  only  three 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.         119 

or  four  hundred  votes  in  seventeen  counties  ;  and 
he  would  not  have  been  baten  at  all,  but  that  he 
carried  on  his  back  Jackson,  and  every  lawyer 
and  printer  in  the  district." 

His  rifle  next  came  upon  the  tapis,  and  from 
him  I  learned  that  he  was  cleaning  her  up  for  a 
shooting  match,  to  which  I  was  invited.  To 
gratify  me,  he,  with  his  brother,  went  out  and  shot 
several  times.  One  who  is  little  accustomed  to 
shooting,  can  form  no  idea  of  the  skill  of  the  back- 
woods marksmen.  Even  the  fiction  of  Cooper,  in 
the  skill  of  his  far-famed  Hawk-eye,  I  have  seen 
surpassed.  And  were  the  deeds  of  La  Longue 
Carabine  and  old  Betsy  brought  into  comparison, 
an  impartial  judge  would  have  to  decide  in  favour 
of  the  latter.  Not  only  does  the  colonel  shoot 
well,  who  has  indeed  been  a  splendid  shot,  but  the 
finest  corps  of  riflemen  in  the  world,  might  be 
selected  from  the  north-western  part  of  Tennessee. 

Forty  yards  off-hand,  or  sixty  with  a  rest,  is  the 
distance  generally  chosen  for  a  shooting  match. 
These  are  considered  equivalent  distances ;  that 
is,  either  may  be  selected — if  no  distance  be  spe- 
cified, this  is  implied.  ' 

Off-hand  shooting  is  always  preferred  by  a  good 
marksman,  and  is  generally  the  closest.  In  shoot- 
ing writh  a  rest,  the  rifle  rebounds,  and  conse- 
quently throws  its  ball  with  much  less  accuracy. 
To  prove  this,  take  two  rifle  or  gun-barrels,  which, 
by  placing  them  together,  will  touch  only  at  each 


120     SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

end,  and  you  will  find  no  difficulty  in  springing 
them  together  by  means  of  your  two  fingers.  In 
speaking  of  the  accuracy  of  the  western  riflemen, 
I  can  conceive  of  nothing  that  I  could  say  which 
would  amount  to  fiction.  I  have  known  them,  at 
the  distance  of  one  hundred  yards,  to  shoot  six 
balls  out  of  eleven  within  less  than  half  an  inch  of 
the  centre ;  and  in  all  their  shooting  matches,  no 
ball  is  allowed  to  count  which  is  not  found  within 
an  inch.  They  use  for  patching,  cotton  cloth,  and 
wipe  their  rifles  after  every  discharge.  I  think 
they  would  even  shoot  with  more  accuracy  than 
they  do,  did  they  use  percussion  locks,  which 
possess  many  advantages  over  the  flint  lock. 

The  time  having  arrived,  on  we  went  to  the 
shooting  match.  The  place  selected  was  a  grove, 
near  which  stood  a  tippling  house.  We  found  many 
persons  already  assembled,  and  they  continued  to 
flock  in  until  several  hundred  were  collected. 
They  disposed  of  themselves  in  different  groups 
about  the  grove,  some  lying  down,  others  standing, 
and  indulged  pretty  much  in  the  same  topic  of 
conversation — that  is,  each  man  wanted  his  neigh- 
bour to  put  up  something  to  be  shot  for.  There 
was  something  very  striking  in  their  appearance. 
Almost  every  man  was  clad  in  the  garb  of  a 
hunter, — with  a  rifle,  a  'coon  skin  bag,  from  which 
was  suspended  a  large  knife  and  an  alligator's 
tooth  for  a  charger, — than  which  nothing  can  be 
more  beautiful.  Many  articles  were  brought  to 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.         121 

the  gathering  for  sale ;  yet  no  person,  though  he 
might  want  them  ever  so  badly,  thought  of  buying. 
They  must  all  go  through  the  process  of  being 
shot  for,  before  any  man  would  consent  to  own 
them.  This  was  literally  the  case  with  every 
article.  Whenever  any  thing  very  pretty  was 
exhibited,  you  would  hear  many  persons  telling 
the  vender  uot  to  sell  it,  but  to  put  it  up — that  is, 
make  up  chances,  and  have  a  shooting  match. 

There  is  no  country  in  the  world  which  can 
beat  the  Western  District  in  originality  of  names. 
I  once  overheard  two  men  bargaining  for  a  horse : 
said  one  to  the  other,  "  I  will  give  you  two  hun- 
dred dollars  worth  of  dogs  for  him."  Two  hundred 
dollars  worth  of  dogs !  said  I  to  myself — two 
hundred  dollars  worth  of  dogs  ! ! — What  can  that 
mean  ?  Upon  asking  for  an  explanation,  I  found 
out  that  bonds,  or  promissory  notes,  were  termed 
dogs — and  that  they  were  said  to  be  of  a  good  or 
bad  breed,  according  to  the  ability  and  punctuality 
of  the  obligor. 

But  to  my  tale.  The  crowd,  to  brighten  their 
ideas,  or  rather  to  increase  their  propensity  to 
shoot,  which,  by  the  bye,  needed  no  stimulus,  occa- 
sionally took  a  little — and  when  they  were  sum- 
moned to  the  field,  where  an  ox  or  two  was  to  be 
awarded  to  the  victor,  I  could  see  many  a  man 
who  was  "  how  come  you  so  ?"  Each  man  who 
was  to  shoot,  carried  with  him  his  target:  this 
consisted  of  a  small  board  which  had  been  burned 


$22     SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

•Mack,  and  rubbed  smooth,  on  which  a  small  piece 
.of  white  paper  had  been  pinned.  The  judges  took 
^possession  of  all  the  boards ;  and,  from  the  centre 
spot  on  each,  described  four  concentric  circles, 
commencing  with  a  radius  of  one-fourth  of  an 
inch,  then  half  an  inch,  three-fourths  of  an  inch, 
vand  one  inch. 

The  judges  having  measured  the  distance  at 
•which  they  were  to  shoot,  from  a  tree  against 
which  their  targets  were  to  be  placed, — and 
having  marked  out  on  the  ground  a  circle,  to  pre- 
vent their  being  intruded  upon  under  penalty  of  a 
quart,  all  was  ready.  There  was  no  regularity  in 
tshooting;  each  marksman  called  for  his  target 
when  it  suited  him.  One,  taking  his  position,  cried 
out,  put  up  my  board — it  was  done :  and  the  crowd 
flocked  together,  on  either  side,  from  the  target  to 
the  marksman,  forming  a  lane  of  living  people 
,iabout  four  feet  wide,  with  their  heads  inclining 
inwards,  to  see  the  effect  of  the  shot.  The  marks- 
man stood  for  a  moment  as  if  sculptured  from 
marble,  the  muzzle  of  his  gun  pointing  to  the  earth 
— then  raising  it  gradually,  it  became  horizontal, 
poised  for  an  instant,  and  there  burst  forth  a  sheet 
of  living  flame — the  ball  was  buried  in  the  paper, 
and  at  the  annunciation  of  it,  a  wild  shout  rent  the 
air. 

«  £) — n  it,  clear  the  track,  and  put  up  my  board," 
was  shouted  from  the  lips  of  Crockett,  and  I  dis- 
covered old  Betsy  poised  aloft  in  the  air.  The 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.        123 

lane  was  again  formed,  and  Crockett  lounged  idly 
at  his  stand,  with  his  gun  upon  his  shoulder,  which 
was  carelessly  thrown  off,  and  discharged  the 
moment  it  became  horizontal.  The  same  effect 
ensued — the  ball  was  buried  in  the  paper,  and 
another  wild  shout  rent  the  air.  I  never  have 
witnessed  more  excitement ;  the  scene  was  kept 
up  for  several  hours  by  various  marksmen — and 
the  welkin  did  not  ring  with  louder  applause,  when 
on  Long  Island  the  far-famed  Eclipse  passed 
Henry,  one  of  Virginia's  favourite  sons,  than  did 
the  backwoods  of  Tennessee  at  each  successful 
shot. 

I  observed  that  many  a  marksman,  after  shoot- 
ing two  or  three  times,  would  hide  his  rifle  in  the 
woods,  as  he  said,  to  allow  it  rest — and  the  idea 
at  first  seemed  to  me  superstitious — but  there  were 
two  objects  in  doing  so — it  was  hid  to  prevent  any 
person  from  playing  a  trick  upon  it ;  and  allowed 
to  cool,  that  its  barrel  might  not  glimmer.  A 
heated  barrel  always  glimmers,  and  a  good  marks- 
man never  shoots  when  the  rays  of  the  sun  may 
warp  his  vision ;  but,  if  practicable,  seeks  a  shade. 

Evening  came  on,  and  the  crowd  showed  no 
disposition  to  disperse.  A  thousand  shooting 
matches  were  in  embryo  :  this  man  wanted  a  pair 
of  shoes — another  a  hat — a  third  some  cakes  for 
his  children — not  one  of  which  things  would  they 
dare  to  carry  home,  until  it  had  gone  through  the 
regular  process  of  being  shot  for.  Whether  this 


124     SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

practice  proceeds  from  a  natural  fondness  for 
adventure,  or  from  a  spirit  of  economy,  I  know  not 
— for  I  saw  several  men  pay  two  or  three  prices 
for  an  article,  before  they  were  fortunate  enough 
to  get  it.  But,  methought,  when  one  went  home 
where,  perhaps,  sat  some 


"sulky,  sullen  dame, 

Gathering  her  brows,  like  gathering  storm, 
Nursing  her  wrath  to  keep  it  warm," 

it  would  appease  her  but  little  to  state,  that  their 
joint  earnings  had  been  spent  for  ginger-cakes — 
but  that  it  would  act  like  a  sedative,  when  it  was 
announced  that  they  cost  but  a  thimble  of  powder, 
with  a  leaden  ball. 

The  evening  passed  off  amid  a  continual  ring- 
ing of  rifles,  and  night  came  on,  and  yet  there  was 
no  disposition  to  disperse — it  was  damp  and  foggy, 
and  consequently  very  dark ;  and,  to  my  utter 
astonishment,  candles  were  called  for,  to  enable 
them  to  shoot.  The  distance  was  diminished : 
and,  though  their  heads  must  have  spun  round  like 
•whirligigs,  I  think  they  rather  improved  in  shooting. 
There  was  a  candle  held  near  each  sight  of  the 
rifle,  and  one  also  on  each  side  of  the  target ;  and 
in  this  manner  did  they  continue  through  the  night 
to  dispose  of  the  merchandise,  which  had  been 
brought  for  sale  during  the  day.  I  sat  up  very 
late  ;  candles  were  continually  called  for,  and  new 
parties  formed.  Weary  of  the  scene,  I  retired  to 
bed. 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.        125 

In  the  morning  I  arose  with  the  first  dawn  of 
day,  and  mounted  my  horse.  The  noise  had 
somewhat  abated,  though  the  candles  were  burn- 
ing, and  the  rifles  ringing — and  they  continued  to 
do  so  while  I  was  in  hearing. 


CHAPTER  X. 

THAT  Colonel  Crockett  could  avail  himself,  in 
electioneering,  of  the  advantages  which  well  ap- 
plied satire  ensures,  the  following  anecdote  will 
sufficiently  prove. 

In  the  canvass  of  the  congressional  election  of 
18 — ,  Mr.  *****  was  the  colonel's  opponent — a 
gentleman  of  the  most  pleasing  and  conciliating 
manners — who  seldom  addressed  a  person  or  a 
company  without  wearing  upon  his  countenance 
a  peculiarly  good  humoured  smile.  The  colonel, 
to  counteract  the  influence  of  this  winning  attri- 
bute, thus  alluded  to  it  in  a  stump  speech  : 

"  Yes,  gentlemen,  he  may  get  some  votes  by 
grinning,  for  he  can  out-grin  me,  and  you  know  I 
ain't  slow — and  to  prove  to  you  that  I  am  not,  I 
will  tell  you  an  anecdote.  I  was  concerned  my- 
self— and  I  was  fooled  a  little  of  the  wickedest. 
You  all  know  I  love  hunting.  Well,  I  discovered 
a  long  time  ago  that  a  'coon  could  n't  stand  my 
grin.  I  could  bring  one  tumbling  down  from  the 
highest  tree.  I  never  wasted  powder  and  lead, 

L2 


126    SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

when  I  wanted  one  of  the  creatures.  Well,  as  I 
was  walking  out  one  night,  a  few  hundred  yards 
from  my  house,  looking  carelessly  about  me,  I  saw 
a  'coon  planted  upon  one  of  the  highest  limbs  of 
an  old  tree.  The  night  was  very  moony  and  clear., 
and  old  Ratler  was  with  me ;  but  Ratler  won't 
bark  at  a  'coon — he's  a  queer  dog  in  that  way. 
So,  I  thought  I'd  bring  the  lark  down,  in  the  usual 
way,  ly  a  grin.  I  set  myself— and,  after  grinning 
at  the  'coon  a  reasonable  time,  found  that  he  did  n't 
come  down.  I  wondered  what  was  the  reason — 
and  I  took  another  steady  grin  at  him.  Still  he 
was  there.  It  made  me  a  little  mad ;  so  I  felt 
round  and  got  an  old  limb  about  five  feet  long — 
and,  planting  one  end  upon  the  ground,  I  placed 
my  chin  upon  the  other,  and  took  a  rest.  I  then 
grinned  my  best  for  about  five  minutes — but  the 
cursed  'coon  hung  on.  So,  finding  I  could  not 
bring  him  down  by  grinning,  I  determined  to  have 
him — for  I  thought  he  must  be  a  droll  chap.  I 
went  over  to  the  house,  got  my  axe,  returned  to 
the  tree,  saw  the  'coon  still  there,  and  began  to 
cut  away.  Down  it  come,  and  I  run  forward ; 
but  d — n  the  'coon  was  there  to  be  seen.  I  found 
that  what  I  had  taken  for  one,  was  a  large  knot 
upon  a  branch  of  the  tree — and,  upon  looking  at 
it  closely,  I  saw  that  /  had  grinned  all  the  bark 
off,  and  left  the  knot  perfectly  smooth. 

"  Now,  fellow-citizens,"  continued  the  colonel, 
"  you  must  be  convinced  that,  in  the  grinning  line, 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.        127 

I  myself  am  not  slow — yet,  when  I  look  upon  my 
opponent's  countenance,  I  must  admit  that  he  is 
my  superior.  You  must  all  admit  it.  Therefore-, 
be  wide  awake — look  sharp — and  do  not  let  him 
grin  you  out  of  your  votes." 

I  have  never  met  with  a  man  who  had  a 
happier  talent  for  turning  every  thing  to  his  own 
advantage  than  Colonel  Crockett.  Never  at  a 
loss,  he  gives  in  his  blunt  way,  to  every  sally  of 
wit  against  him,  the  happiest  answer  that  can  be 
conceived ;  and  I  believe  no  person  who  has  been 
the  aggressor,  ever  left  him  satisfied  with  his  own 
success. 

During  his  first  canvass  for  congress,  while  air 
a  public  gathering,  Colonel  Crockett  was,  as  he 
ever  is,  the  centre  of  a  crowd,  which  he  was 
amusing  with  some  comic  story  ;  when,  to  abash- 
him,  a  friend  of  his  opponent,  with  an  impudent 
yet  smirking  face,  walked  up,  and  pulling  out  a 
'coon  skin,  asked  the  colonel  to  give  him  the 
change  for  it: — four  hare  skins  are  equal  to  a 
'coon  skin.  Colonel  Crockett,  taking  the  skin  and 
feeling  the  fur,  asked,  "  Where  did  you  git  this  ?'* 

"'Twas  handed  me  a  while  ago." 

"  Well,  you  take  it  back,  and  tell  the  fellow  I 
say  he  cheated  you — it's  a  counterfeit — the  fur 
ain't  worth  a  rotten  persimon — the  'coon  was  sick 
— you  could  n't  git  one  of  my  dogs  to  tree  suh  a 
'coon  as  that.  Take  it  back." 

The  colonel,  though  wild  and  wayward  in  his 


128     SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

flights,  seldom  says  any  thing  without  an  inten- 
tion— and  very  often  the  keenest  satire  may  be 
found  lurking  under  the  most  ridiculous  garb. 
But  to  place  his  character  in  a  fair  light,  it  is  only 
necessary  to  advert  to  the  circumstances  under 
which  he  was  elected.  A  hunter,  poor,  entirely 
without  education,  and  without  family  influence, 
he  was  called  upon  by  a  large  majority  of  the 
citizens  of  his  district  to  represent  them — a  dis- 
trict composed  of  seventeen  counties,  and  contain- 
ing at  that  time  nearly  100,000  souls,  without  one 
single  advantage  other  than  the  mere  gifts  of 
nature.  He  had  to  contend  with  men  of  genius, 
of  fortune,  and  refined  education — and,  further,  to 
withstand  the  fury  of  all  the  presses  in  his  district, 
—which  sent  forth  sheet  after  sheet  of  violent 
abuse,  of  ludicrous  caricatures,  and  of  biting  satire, 
— and  yet,  from  beneath  this  accumulating  weight, 
Colonel  Crockett  rose  to  distinction.  Is  this  not  a 
proof  that  nature  has  indeed  been  liberal  to  him  ? 
And,  though  we  may  laugh  at  his  humours,  yet 
we  must  all  concede,  that  in  the  power  of  gaining 
men's  hearts,  with  but  one  exception,  Colonel 
Crockett  stands  unrivalled.  There  are  many  per- 
sons who  will  attribute  his  success  to  a  wrant  of 
talent  in  his  own  district.  But  this  is  not  the  case. 
For,  though  the  country  has  been  but  lately  settled, 
there  is,  in  some  portions  of  it,  the  refinement  of 
good  society — and,  throughout  the  district,  you 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.    . 

frequently  meet  with  fine  specimens  of  genius,  and 
of  education. 

Colonel  Crockett,  as  I  before  remarked,  has 
been  exposed  to  the  wrath  of  the  presses  of  his 
district ;  and  paper  bulletins  have  been  used 
against  him  in  every  shape  which  you  can  well 
conceive — in  every  style,  from  the  most  chaste 
and  sedate  language,  to  the  violent  slang  of 
modern  party  spirit.  I  think  nothing  could  have 
been  better  calculated  for  effect,  than  a  series  of 
numbers,  distributed  in  pamphlet  form,  entitled, 
".Book  of  Chronicles,  west  of  Tennessee,  and  east 
of  the  Mississippi  rivers," — and  which  are  really  so 
severe,  as  well  as  amusing,  that  I  must  here  insert 
a  number. 

"BOOK  Off  MUM). \ICLES, 

WEST  OF  TENNESSEE,  AND  EAST  OF  THE    MISSISSIPPI 
RIVERS. 

"  1.  And  it  came  to  pass  in  those  days,  when 
Andrew  was  chief  ruler  over  the  children  of  Colum- 
bia, that  there  arose  a  mighty  man  in  the  river 
country,  whose  name  was  David ;  he  belonged  to 
the  tribe  of  Tennessee,  which  lay  upon  the  border 
of  the  Mississippi  and  over  against  Kentucky. 

"2.  Now  David  was  chief  of  the  hosts  of  Forked 
Deer,  and  Obion,  and  round  about  the  Hatchee,  and 
the  Mississippi  rivers ;  and  behold  his  fame  had 
spread  abroad  throughout  all  the  land  of  Columbia, 


130     SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

insomuch  that  there  were  none  to  be  found  like 
unto  him  for  wisdom  and  valour ;  no,  not  one  in 
all  the  land. 

"  3.  David  was  a  man  wise  in  council,  smooth 
in  speech,  valiant  in  war,  and  of  fair  countenance 
and  goodly  stature ;  such  was  the  terror  of  his 
exploits,  that  thousands  of  wild  cats  and  panthers 
did  quake  and  tremble  at  his  name. 

"  4.  And  it  came  to  pass  that  David  was  chosen 
by  the  people  in  the  river  country,  to  go  with  the 
wise  men  of  the  tribe  of  Tennessee  to  the  grand 
Sanhedrim,  held  yearly  in  the  twelfth  month,  and 
on  the  first  Monday  in  the  month,  at  the  city  of 
Washington,  where  the  wise  men  from  the  east, 
from  the  west,  from  the  north,  and  from  the  south, 
gathered  themselves  together  to  consult  on  the 
welfare  of  Columbia  and  her  twenty-four  tribes. 

"  5.  In  those  days  there  were  many  occupants 
spread  abroad  throughout  the  river  country :  these 
men  loved  David  exceedingly,  because  he  promised 
to  give  them  lands  flowing  with  milk  and  honey. 

"  6.  And  it  came  to  pass  in  the  54th  year  after 
the  children  of  Columbia  had  escaped  from  British 
bondage,  and  on  the  first  month,  when  Andrew 
and  the  wise  men  and  rulers  of  the  people  were 
assembled  in  the  great  Sanhedrim,  that  David 
arose  in  the  midst  of  them,  saying,  Men  and 
brethren,  wot  ye  not  that  there  are  many  occu- 
pants in  the  river  country  on  the  west  border  of 
the  tribe  of  Tennessee,  who  are  settled  down 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.         IS? 

upon  lands  belonging  to  Columbia ;  now  I  beseech 
you  give  unto  these  men  each  a  portion  for  his 
inheritance,  so  that  his  soul  may  be  glad,  and  he 
will  bless  you  and  your  posterity. 

"  7.  But  the  wise  men  from  the  south,  the  south- 
east, the  west,  and  the  middle  country,  arose  with 
one  accord,  and  said,  Lo  !  brethren,  this  cannot  be 
done.  The  thing  which  our  brother  David  asketii 
is  unjust ;  the  like  never  hath  been  done  in  the 
land  of  Columbia.  If  we  give  the  lands  away,  rt 
must  be  to  the  tribe  of  Tennessee ;  so  that  they 
may  deal  with  the  occupants  as  it  may  seem  good 
in  their  sight.  This  has  been  the  practice  in  old 
times,  and  with  our  fathers,  and  we  will  not  do 
part  therefrom.  Furthermore,  we  cannot  give 
this  land  away  until  the  warrants  are  satisfied. 

"  8.  Behold,  when  David  heard  these  sayings, 
he  was  exceeding  wroth  against  the  wise  men 
and  the  rulers  of  the  congregation,  and  against 
Andrew,  and  made  a  vow  unto  the  Lord  that  he 
would  be  avenged  of  them.  Then  John,  one  of 
the  wise  men  of  the  tribe  of  Tennessee,  who  lived 
at  the  rocky  city,  arose  in  the  midst,  and  said,  If 
we  give  this  land  unto  the  occupants  instead  of- 
the  tribe,  all  the  occupants  in  the  land  of  Colun> 
bia  will  beseech  us  for  lands,  and  there  will  be 
none  left  to  pay  the  debt  which  redeemed  us  from 
bondage ;  no,  not  an  acre  :  and  this  saying  pleased 
the  wise  men  and  the  rulers,  and  they  did  accord^ 
ingly. 


132     SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

"  9.  Now  there  were  in  these  days  wicked 
.men,  sons  of  Belial,  to  wit :  the  Claytonites,  the 
Holmesites,  Burgessites,  the  Everettites,  the  Chil- 
tonites,  and  the  Bartonites.  who  were  of  the  tribes 
of  Maine,  Massachusetts,  Rhode  Island,  Kentucky 
and  Missouri,  and  who  hated  Andrew  and  his 
friends  of  old  times,  because  the  children  of 
Columbia  had  chosen  him  to  rule  over  them 
instead  of  Henry,  whose  surname  was  Clay, 
whom  they  desired  for  their  chief  ruler. 

"  10.  And  lo,  when  those  men  saw  that  David 
was  sorely  troubled  in  spirit,  they  communed  one 
with  another,  and  said,  Is  this  not  David  from 
the  river  country  in  the  west,  who  of  old  times 
was  very  valiant  for  Andrew  to  be  ruler,  and 
who  perplexed  our  ranks  in  the  Sanhedrim,  and 
who  was  foremost  in  battle  against  our  great 
chiefs  Henry  and  John  Q.  when  they  were  de- 
feated by  Andrew  ?  Now  Tristram,  whose  sur- 
name was  Burgess,  answered  and  said,  Men  and 
brethren,  as  the  Lord  liveth  it  is  he. 

"11.  Then  Daniel,  whose  surname  was  Web- 
ster, and  who  was  a  prophet  of  the  order  of  Balaam, 
said,  Let  us  comfort  David  in  his  afflictions ;  his 
wrath  is  kindled  against  Andrew  and  his  friends, 
and  against  the  wise  men  of  Tennessee ;  perad- 
venture  he  will  come  over  to  us  at  the  next  elec- 
tion to  fight  for  Henry  against  Andrew ;  and 
Thomas,  whose  surname  was  Chilton,  said,  Thou 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.         133 

speaketh  wisely ;  let  what  thou  sayest  be  done 
according  to  thy  words. 

"  12.  Then  Daniel  drew  nigh  unto  David  and 
said  unto  him,  Wherefore,  O  my  brother,  dost  thou 
seem  sad  and  sorrowful  ?  Why  is  thy  soul  bowed 
down  with  affliction?  Hath  the  hand  of  the  Lord, 
smote  heavily  upon  thee  ?  Have  famine  and 
pestilence  destroyed  thy  land  and  all  thy  beloved 
occupants  ?  Or  have  the  wise  men  and  rulers 
been  unkind  to  thee  ?  I  pray  thec  tell  me,  and  I 
will  comfort  thec. 

"  13.  And  David  lifted  up  his  eyes  and  wept, 
and  said,  O  Daniel !  live  for  ever.  If  the  wise 
men  and  rulers  had  given  my  occupants  the  lands 
according  to  the  manner  I  beseeched  them,  I  could 
have  been  wise  man  and  chief  ruler  in  the  river 
country  for  life.  But  if  I  join  the  wrise  men  and 
give  it  to  the  state  of  Tennessee,  then  they  will 
share  the  honour  with  me,  and  the  council  of  the 
state  of  Tennessee  will  give  it  to  the  occupants  at 
twelve  and  one-half  cents  per  acre,  and  they  will 
receive  the  honour  instead  of  me  ;  then  the  people 
of  the  river  country  will  not  have  me  for  their 
wise  man  and  chief  ruler  forever,  and  it  grieveth 
me  sore. 

"  14.  And  Daniel  answered  and  said  unto  David, 
Swear  unto  me  that  thou  and  all  thy  people  in  the 
river  country  will  come  over  unto  me  and  fight 
with  me  at  the  next  election  against  Andrew  and 
his  people,  in  favour  of  Henry  for  chief  ruler  of 
M 


134     SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

Columbia ;  then  I  will  help  thee  to  get  the  lands  for 
thine  occupants ;  and  David  swore  accordingly, 
and  there  is  a  league  existing  between  them  even 
unto  this  day. 

"  15.  Now  there  was  a  man  in  the  river  coun- 
try, about  the  centre  way  thereof,  whose  name 
was  William.  He  loved  David  as  he  loved  his 
own  soul ;  his  soul  and  David's  were  knit  as 
though  they  were  but  one  ;  he  was  David's  chief 
counsellor.  When  David  wept,  he  wept ;  when 
David  rejoiced,  he  rejoiced ;  if  David  bade  him 
go,  he  went ;  if  David  bade  him  come,  he  came. 

"  16.  So  it  came  to  pass  when  David  returned 
from  the  great  Sanhedrim,  that  William  ran  and 
fell  upon  his  neck  and  wept  for  joy ;  then  David 
said  unto  him,  I  have  been  discomfited  in  all  my 
plans  ;  I  could  not  get  my  beloved  occupants  their 
lands  without  dividing  the  honour  with  the  wise 
men  of  my  state,  and  giving  it  to  the  whole  tribe 
of  the  Tennessee;  I  wot  not  but  the  council 
would  give  it  to  them  as  cheap  as  I,  but  it  would 
rob  me  of  the  honour,  and  then  I  cannot  be  wise 
man  and  chief  ruler  for  life ;  I  have  therefore 
engaged  to  forsake  Andrew  and  join  the  ranks  of 
Henry,  for  the  chief  ruler  over  the  children  of 
Columbia — for  the  wise  men  of  my  tribe  and  the 
friends  of  Andrew  have  forsaken  me.  Wilt  thou, 
in  whom  my  soul  delighteth,  go  with  me  in  these 
things  ? 

"  17.  And  William  answered,  and  said,  Where 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.         135 

thou  goest,  I  will  go ;  where  thou  stayest,  I  will 
stay ;  what  thou  doest,  I  will  do ;  and  I  will  have 
none  other  God  but  thee — when  I  forsake  thee,  let 
the  Lord  forsake  me,  do  as  thou  wilt. 

"  18.  And  David  said  unto  William,  Draw  near 
unto  me  ;  I  will  counsel  thee,  for  thou  art  my 
beloved  disciple,  in  whom  I  am  well  pleased.  Go 
thou  through  all  the  river  country,  and  every 
neighbourhood  thereof;  tell  the  people  I  will  be 
elected  by  five  thousand  votes.  As  thou  art  a 
Baptist,  they  will  put  trust  in  thee. 

"  19.  If  thou  dost  come  to  a  people  who  knoweth 
thee  not,  if  they  are  for  me,  say  unto  them,  be  strong 
and  valiant  on  the  day  of  the  election ; — if  they  are 
against  me,  say  unto  them  thou  art  against  me 
also — but  that  thou  hast  been  all  through  the  river 
country,  and  I  will  be  elected  by  a  mighty  host : 
this  will  terrify  them,  and  they  will  join  me.  If 
thou  shalt  come  to  an  ignorant  people,  say  unto 
them  my  adversary  is  guilty  of  corruption.  If  a 
Jackson  man  approaches  thee,  say  unto  him  I 
have  always  been  for  Jackson. 

"  20.  If  a  Clay  man  encounter  thee,  then  mayest 
thou  tell  him  of  the  bargain  with  Daniel.  If  a 
Baptist  greet  thee,  say  unto  him  I  am  religiously 
disposed  and  think  highly  of  the  Baptists.  If  a 
Methodist  shall  enquire  of  thee,  say  unto  him  I 
always  attend  their  camp-meetings.  If  a  Cum- 
berland Presbyterian  shall  call  upon  thee,  say  unto 
him  I  have  joined  his  society. 


136     SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

"  21.  But  be  thou  circumspect  in  all  things,  and 
do  not  say  unto  the  people  that  I  have  franked 
sack  bags  full  of  books  into  the  river  country, 
against  Andrew,  at  their  expense.  Thou  shalt 
not  say  unto  the  people  that  I  have  franked 
Hume's  History  of  England,  or  a  sack  of  feathers ; 
be  careful  to  inform  Roland,  the  High  Priest,  of  all 
these  things,  so  that  he  may  direct  the  congregation 
accordingly. 

"  22.  Remember  now,  my  beloved  disciple,  that 
I  am  thy  light  and  thy  life  ;  I  have  sent  thee  big 
coats,  bibles,  hymn  books,  and  many  articles  from 
the  great  Sanhedrim,  for  thyself  and  family.  I 
will  send  thee  many  other  things  if  thou  art  faithful 
unto  the  end.  Go  forth,  and  the  Lord  prosper  thee. 

"  23.  And  William  went  unto  all  the  river  coun- 
try and  did  according  to  all  that  David  commanded 
him  ;  but  the  people  were  a  stiff-necked  genera- 
tion, and  would  not  agree  that  David  should  bring 
Henry  to  be  chief  ruler  over  the  children  of  Co- 
lumbia instead  of  Andrew ;  but  with  one  accord 
said  unto  William,  David  hath  beguiled  us,  we 
will  desert  him  and  stick  to  Andrew,  who  hath 
brought  us  out  of  British  bondage — and  we  will 
vote  for  William,  whose  surname  is  Fitzgerald — 
and  the  people  all  said,  AMEN  !" 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.        137 


CHAPTER  XL 

THE  inhabitants  of  the  Western  District  I  love, 
and  shall  ever  remember  with  pleasure,  notwith- 
standing their  propensity  for  fun  and  frolic,  for 
they  are  kind,  hospitable,  and  generous ;  and  I 
should  be  unhappy,  if  I  knew  I  had  written  a  line 
calculated  to  wound  the  feelings  of  a  single  indi- 
vidual. My  object  has  been  merely  to  amuse 
myself, — to  "lend  a  whig  to  weary  time,"  and 
catch  the  "  manners  living  as  they  rise."  And,  if 
this  hasty  production  has  the  same  effect  upon 
others  which  it  has  had  upon  me,  many  a  wan- 
dering exile  may,  for  a  moment,  be  relieved  from 
the  too  sad  thoughts  of  those  now  far  away, — 
many  a  frightened  poor  soul  may,  for  a  while, 
cease  to  think  of  the  dreaded  cholera, — and  many 
an  afflicted  patient  bid  farewell,  for  a  time,  to  the 
blues.  Indeed,  I  should  believe  any  man  a  queer 
fellow  who  cannot,  in  this  hotchpotch,  find  some 
page  to  his  taste. 

During  my  stay  with  Colonel  Crockett,  among 
other  things,  I  asked  him  how  he  liked  the  various 
jests  which  had  been  published  concerning  him. 

"  Oh,  d — n  it,"  says  he,  "  I  don't  care — those 
who  publish  them  don't  intend  to  injure  me." 

"  But,"  says  I,  "  Colonel,  what  do  you  think  of 
your  last  commission?" 

M2 


138  SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

"  What  commission  ?" 

"  The  one  which  it  is  reported  our  worthy  pre- 
sident has  given  you." 

"  Well,  I  don't  know  what  that  is." 

"I  perceive  from  the  newspapers,"  said  I,  "that 
in  order  to  quiet  the  fears  of  the  world,  you  are 
authorized  by  the  president  to  mount  the  Alle- 
ghany,  and  wring  off  the  tail  of  the  comet,  when 
it  makes  its  appearance."  He  could  not  help 
smiling,  but  instantly  replied : 

"  I'll  be  d — 'd,  if  I  had  a  commission,  if  I  did  n't 
wring  his  tail  off." 

Among  the  various  devices  used  for  killing 
game,  the  following  plan,  said  by  some  wag  to  have 
been  practised  by  Colonel  Crockett,  has  in  it  the 
spice  of  originality.  The  wild  animals  of  his  dis- 
trict are  supposed  to  take  more  interest  in  the 
congressional  election  than  its  citizens,  from  the 
fact  that  if  the  colonel  be  elected,  they  have  some 
respite. 

Daring  his  first  terms  of  service  in  congress 
they  increased  rapidly,  and  are  said  to  have 
prowled  about,  very  much  to  the  annoyance  of 
the  planters.  But  great  was  the  consternation 
among  their  ranks,  when  it  was  announced  that 
he  was  defeated  :  at  all  hours  might  they  be  seen 
making  their  way  to  the  swamps  west  of  the 
Mississippi.  The  colonel  is  supposed  to  have  been 
in  no  very  good  humour  at  being  beaten,  and  to 
have  resolved  to  vent  his  ire  upon  the  bears  of  his 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.         139 

district ;  and,  in  order  to  do  this,  is  supposed  to 
have  taken  along  with  him  his  hunting-knife,  and 
gone  down  to  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi,  where 
he  planted  himself  in  a  path  in  such  a  position, 
that  he  could  see  at  some  distance  without  being 
seen.  He  had  not  long  occupied  this  situation 
when  an  old  bear  was  perceived  coming  along  in 
great  haste :  the  colonel  suffered  it  to  approach 
tolerably  near,  when,  jumping  up,  he  gave  a  sud- 
den squeal,  crying  out,  fve  got  you,  have  I.  This 
was  hardly  ever  known  to  fail,  and  is  said  to  have 
acted  like  an  electric  shock ;  so  killing  was  its 
effect,  that  before  a  bear  which  was  thus  assailed 
could  recover  from  its  surprise,  it  is  generally 
believed  that  it  was  nearly  butchered.  The  bear 
being  killed  and  dragged  out  of  the  way,  the 
colonel  had  only  to  squat  in  his  former  position 
until  another  came  along. 

Although  I  have  given  in  this  work  so  large  a 
space  to  hunting  stories,  I  have  failed  to  mention 
a  species  of  hunting  very  much  practised  through- 
out the  "  far  away  west,"  and  which  is  almost  ever 
attended  with  invariable  success.  I  allude  to  fire 
hunting,  or  the  plan  by  which  deer  are  killed  of 
a  night  with  a  gun  or  rifle — which  I  have  some- 
times practised,  though  I  abhor  it.  Yes,  gentle 
reader,  deer  are  here  killed  of  a  night  with  a  gun, 
very  often  with  a  rifle — and  the  darker  the  night, 
the  better  the  prospect  for  success.  I  have  known 


140     SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

many  a  single  hunter  to  kill  five,  six,  and  even 
seven  of  a  night. 

Fire  hunting  was  unknown  in  this  country  until 
within  some  fifty  or  sixty  years,  when  it  was  intro- 
duced by  Mr.  Burnie,  who  lived  among  the 
Choctaw  Indians.  In  Virginia  it  was  practised 
before  this,  but  not  with  the  same  success.  The 
facility  with  which  Mr.  Burnie  killed  deer  at 
night,  infused  into  the  superstitious  Indians  a  be- 
lief that  he  was  some  superior  personage,  and  that 
he  effected  it  by  means  of  physic,  which  is  their 
to  kalon,  and  solves  all  their  mysteries.  He 
delighted  for  some  time  in  practising  upon  their 
fears — and  literally  astonished  the  natives.  How- 
ever, it  was  revealed — and  is  now  generally  prac- 
tised, though  prohibited  by  law. 

To  prepare  for  a  fire  hunt,  it  is  necessary  to  get 
a  common  frying-pan,  the  handle  of  which  is 
lashed  to  a  board,  three  or  four  inches  in  width, 
and  five  or  six  feet  long,  which  is  placed  on  the 
shoulder,  and  the  arm  thrown  over  it,  to  keep  it 
in  a  horizontal  position.  The  handle  being  length- 
ened, throws  the  pan  several  feet  behind  the 
hunter,  in  which  there  is  a  light  wood  fire  kindled, 
—and  he  is  then  ready  for  a  hunt.  The  light  from 
the  fire  illuminates  a  circle,  save  where  the  shadow 
from  the  head  falls,  which  diverging  as  it  goes  off, 
is  in  size  considerable.  Within  this  shadow,  the 
huntsman  sees  and  shoots  his  game,  which  mani- 
fests itself  alone  by  its  eyes,  wrhich  are  red  and 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.        141 

fiery,  from  the  reflection  of  the  light,  and  visible 
at  some  distance.  The  huntsman  either  walks  or 
rides,  shoots  with  the  pan  on  his  shoulder,  and 
seeks  the  highland  or  swamp,  or  any  place  where 
he  will  probably  meet  with  deer.  To  increase  the 
shadow,  or  range  of  vision,  it  is  only  necessary  to 
move  the  handle  horizontally  to  the  right  or  left, 
which  causes  the  shadow  to  sweep  the  segment 
of  a  circle  in  any  direction  you  please.  The 
danger  arising  from  this  species  of  hunting  is,  that 
dogs,  sheep,  horses,  and  cows,  are  liable  to  be 
shot — their  eyes  presenting  an  appearance  similar 
to  that  of  the  deer.  The  most  experienced  hunter 
may  be  deceived  by  the  eyes  of  a  dog  or  sheep. 
Horses  and  cows,  from  the  fact  that  their  eyes 
are  farther  apart,  may  be  distinguished — yet  many 
of  them  have  been  sacrificed  to  a  knowledge  of 
this  pursuit. 

There  is  something  very  striking  in  viewing  a 
walking  light,  meandering  through  the  wToods, 
while  shooting  upwards  it  throws  around  a  broad 
lurid  glare,  and  lends  to  the  woods,  wherever  a 
shadow  falls,  a  gloom  far  greater  than  that  of  the 
night. 

The  sight  is  calculated  to  have  much  effect  upon 
a  human  being ;  and  I  cannot  reconcile  it  to  my- 
self to  see  even  a  deer  fall  by  so  treacherous  a 
plan — treacherous  it  seems  to  me,  for  having  lain 
concealed  all  day  in  swamps  to  avoid  man — 
having  rid  themselves  of  dogs,  perhaps  by  a  long 


142     SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

and  weary  chase,  they  move  out  under  cover 
of  night  to  pick  their  scanty  subsistence,  or  to 
glean  nutriment  for  their  tender  young.  Little 
do  they  suppose,  when  all  nature  is  wrapped  in 
sleep,  that  there  is  an  enemy  in  search  of  them, 
so  captivating  in  appearance  as  to  lull  asleep  all 
fear,  all  suspicion  of  injury.  They  feed — their 
beautiful  leopard-like  young  sport  in  gambols  near 
them — occasionally  drawing  the  flowing  teat :  a 
flambeau  is  seen  approaching,  shedding  far  and 
wide  its  broad  lurid  glare.  This  is  the  only  object 
seen  by  them.  As  the  hunter  sweeps  his  circle,  it 
flits  about,  reminding  them  only  of  a  "  marsh's 
meteor  lamp,"  by  the  light  of  which  so  often  they 
have  cropped  the  tender  herbage,  while  sporting 
o'er  some  grassy  meadow.  Nearer  still  it  ap- 
proaches,— and  they  gaze  with  rapture  at  the 
beautiful  sight ;  a  redder  light  bursts  forth,  and  the 
dread  crack  of  a  rifle  rings  through  the  forest. 
The  mother  falls,  and  lies  weltering  in  her  blood. 
Her  tender  infants  lick  from  her  wound  the  crim- 
son fluid  as  it  exudes.  They  look  about — they 
see  nothing  to  alarm  them.  Tears  fill  their  eyes, 
which  only  makes  them  a  more  prominent  mark 
for  the  huntsman, — and,  chained  to  the  spot  by  the 
magic  effects  of  the  light,  they  there  remain,  until 
they  are  offered  up  as  a  sacrifice  to  filial  affection. 
I  have  often  heard  the  question  mooted,  who 
was  the  better  marksman,  the  white  or  red  man. 
My  observation — and  I  have  had  many  opportu- 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.         143 

nities  of  judging — induces  me  to  believe  that  there 
is  no  sort  of  comparison  between  them.  The 
white  man  not  only  shoots  with  more  precision, 
but  traces  with  greater  accuracy  the  various 
animals  which  are  hunted  to  their  respective 
places  of  abode ;  perceives  things  which  an  Indian 
can  never  see  ;  steers  his  course  through  the 
wildest  forest  by  signs  invisible  to  other  eyes,  yet 
still  correct,  and  accomplishes,  by  means  of  his 
ingenuity,  objects  of  which  an  Indian  would  have 
never  dreamed.  Among  the  celebrated  hunters 
of  the  far-off  west,  Colonel  David  Crockett  and 
John  Bradshaw,  of  the  Western  District,  are 
most  conspicuous.  Between  them,  they  have 
killed  about  fifteen  hundred  bears,  exclusive  of  a 
proportionate  quantity  of  other  game ;  and  I 
therefore  think  this  question  must  be  decided  in 
favour  of  the  whites,  unless  two  red  hunters  can 
be  found  whose  deeds  may  ki  some  measure  com- 
pare to  this. 

But  let  us  again  return  to  the  colonel — for  the 
election  is  coming  on,  and  he  must  run  for  con- 
gress. Now  do  not  fancy,  I  beseech  you,  that 
since  his  last  defeat  he  has  been  altogether  idle, 
or  that  his  time  has  been  spent  exclusively  in 
hunting — for,  although  he  has  made  a  very  con- 
siderable impression  on  the  wild  beasts,  he  has 
likewise  made  some  impression  upon  the  men, — 
for  which  a  Kentucky  boatman  can  vouch,  who 
had  the  pleasure  of  meeting  with  Jiim  while  in 


144  SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

one  of  his  aAuirky  humours.  This  scene  is  best 
described  in  the  colonel's  own  language :  "  I  had 
taken  old  Betsy,"  said  he,  "  and  straggled  off  to 
the  banks  of  the  Mississippi  river ;  and  meeting 
with  no  game,  I  didn't  like  it.  I  felt  mighty 
wolfish  about  the  head  and  ears,  and  thought  I 
would  spile  if  I  was  n't  kivured  up  in  salt,  for  I 
had  n't  had  a  fight  in  ten  days  ;  and  I  cum  acrost 
a  fellow  floatin'  down  stream  settin'  in  the  stern  of 
his  boat  fast  asleep.  Said  I,  '  Hello,  stranger !  if 
you  don't  take  keer  your  boat  will  run  away  with 
you' — and  he  looked  up;  and  said  he,  'I  don't 
value  you.'  He  looked  up  at  me  slantendicler, 
and  I  looked  down  upon  him  slantendicler ;  and 
he  took  out  a  chaw  of  turbaccur,  and  said  he, '  I 
don't  value  you  that.'  Said  I, '  cum  ashore,  I  can 
wThip  you — I've  been  trying  to  git  a  fight  all  the 
mornin' ;'  and  the  varmint  flapped  his  wings  and 
crowed  like  a  chicken.  I  ris  up,  shook  my  mane, 
and  neighed  like  a  horse.  He  run  his  boat  plump 
head  foremost  ashore.  I  stood  still  and  sot  my 
triggurs,  that  is,  took  off  my  shurt,  and  tied  my 
gallusses  tight  round  my  waist — and  at  it  we 
went.  He  was  a  right  smart  koon,  but  hardly 
a  bait  for  such  a  fellur  as  me.  I  put  it  to  him 
mighty  droll.  In  ten  minutes  he  yelled  enough, 
and  swore  I  was  a  ripstavur.  Said  I,  '  Ain't  I 
the  yaller  flower  of  the  forest?  And  I  am  all 
brimstone  but  the  head  and  ears,  and  that's  aqua- 
fortis.' Said  he,  *  Stranger,  you  are  a  beauty:  and 


COLONEL  DAVID  (  ROCKETT.         145 

if  I  know'd  your  name  I'd  vote  for  you  next  elec- 
tion.' Said  1,  'I'm  that  same  David  Crockett. 
You  know  what  I'm  made  of.  I've  got  the  closest 
shootin'  rifle,  the  best  'coon  dog,  the  biggest  ticlur, 
and  the  ruftest  racking  horse  in  the  district.  I 
can  kill  more  lickur,  fool  more  varmints,  and  cool 
out  more  men  than  any  man  you  can  find  in  all 
Kentucky.'  Said  he,  'Good  mornin',  stranger — 
I'm  satisfied.'  Said  I,  '  Good  mornin',  sir  ;  I  feel 
much  better  since  our  meetin';'  but  after  I  got 
away  a  piece,  I  said,  '  Hello,  friend,  don't  forget 
that  vote/  * 

This  scene,  with  some  slight  alteration,  has  been 
attributed  I  understand  to  an  imaginary  character, 
Colonel  Wildfire.  This  I  have  not  seen.  But  I 
am  unwilling  that  the  hard  earnings  of  Colonel 
Crockett  should  be  given  to  another. 

I  believe  I  have  said  nothing  of  the  religious 
opinions  of  Colonel  Crockett,  and  perhaps  I  should, 
as  a  chapter  upon  religion  would  be  very  appro- 
priately situated  in  a  work  of  this  nature ;  but  I 
am  out  of  the  humour  at  present,  and  will  only 
observe  that  I  once  heard  him,  upon  being  invited, 
refuse  to  go  to  meeting;  and  the  reason  he  assigned 
was,  that  he  once  heard  the  preacher  state  posi- 
tively that  "  he  had  seen  a  single  stalk  with  thirty- 
three  heads  of  cabbage  on  it." 

But  since  the  colonel's  defeat  for  congress, 
while  we  have  been  regaling  ourselves  with 
sundry  topics,  he  came  very  near  making  his 

N 


146  SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

exit.  Believing  that  he  did  not  grow  rich  fast 
enough,  he  loaded  a  boat  with  staves,  and  sat  out 
for  New-Orleans.  In  floating  down  the  father  of 
waters,  he  one  day  fell  asleep;  and  the  crew,  in 
xouiiding  a  point  in  the  river,  turned  the  boat 
•bottom  upwards.  They  swam  to  shore ;  and 
naotfaing  was  seen  of  the  colonel.  But  when  all 
hope  was  gone,  and  they  least  expected  it,  the 
colonel,  hating  examined  the  curiosities  at  the 
bottom,  was  seen  wading  out !  Yes,  gentle  reader, 
M  walking  the  waters  like  a  thing  of  life  !"  You 
Irnow  it  would  have  been  extremely  absurd  to 
have  drowned  himself  in  a  stream  which  he  had 
so  often  waded.  Moreover,  it  would  have  tended 
to  render  fabulous  the  exploits  of  which  he  had 
so  often  boasted.  He  was  reserved  for  a  far 
higher  destiny.  He  had  to  take  another  elec- 
tioneering tour,  and  perform  divers  and  various 
feats. 

In  this  age  of  invention,  when  the  power  of 
steam  is  running  the  world  mad, — which  is  not 
only  producing  phenomena  in  mechanics  which 
future  ages  shall  wonder  at  and  admire,  but  which 
perhaps  will  yet  account  for  the  velocity  of  the 
comets,  and  even  set  the  solar  system  in  motion, 
and  which,  when  applied  to  the  mind,  gives  to  the 
tongue  a  volubility  unrivalled — in  this  state  of 
things,  I  say,  with  steam  enough,  it  is  not  to  be 
wondered  at  that  any  man  should  make  a  stump 
speech.  I  therefore  will  not  claim  for  the  colonel 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.         147 

the  praise  which  would  otherwise  be  his  due  for 
having  often  spoken  until  his  tongue  was  tired 
performing  its  offices, — until  some  veteran  stump, 
which  stood  firm  as  the  rock  of  ages,  though  the 
winter  winds  of  a  century  had  howled  around  it, 
was  fatigued  with  his  weight ;  but  I  will  claim  for 
him  the  ingenuity  of  having  discovered  that  the 
best  way  to  keep  his  arguments  unanswered, 
when  his  opponent  had  commenced  a  reply,  was 
to  intimate  to  the  crowd,  that  down  at  a  spring 
some  three  or  four  hundred  yards  hence,  they 
would  find  a  little  steam,  which  soon  left  his 
adversary  nothing  to  address  but  the  weary 
stump  to  which  he  had  bid  adieu. 

No  country  presents  a  greater  rage  for  "  trip- 
ping on  the  light  fantastic  toe,"  than  does  the  far- 
away west.  Here  "belles  and  matrons,  maids 
and  madams,"  all  meet  with  a  suitable  partner  in 
the  other  sex.  You  do  not  fancy,  gentle  reader, 
that  they  move  with  measured  steps  through  a 
gay  parterre,  or  thread  the  mazy  dance  in  some 
well-illumined  hall  ?  No.  Nor  do  they  listen  to 
an  Italian  band,  which  warbles  the  soft  airs  of 
its  native  country.  But  with  music  much  more 
sweet — the  banjo — thrummed  by  some  old  trusty 
black ;  with  a  hall  whose  roof  is  the  star-spangled 
firmament,  and  whose  floor  is  girded  by  the  limits 
of  the  forest ;  with  forms  not  screwed  into  fashion's 
mould,  nor  feet  encumbered  with  light  prunellas, 
they  trip  the  fairy  dance.  Governed  by  the  repub- 


148  SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

lican  maxim,  that  we  are  by  nature  free  and  equal, 
there  is  no  necessity  for  introductions.  And  so 
great  is  the  spirit  of  accommodation,  that  they  all 
dance.  Whether  a  lady  solicits  a  gentleman,  or 
a  gentleman  a  lady,  is  a  matter  of  indifference. 
JVor  can  this  amusement  get  along  altogether 
without  steam — for  there  ever  burns  a  furnace 
bright  and  ready,  from  which  issues  a  supply  suf- 
ficient to  keep  the  ball  in  motion. 

This  is  the  famous  bran  dance  of  the  west,  and 
derives  its  name  from  the  fact  that  the  ground  is 
generally  sprinkled  with  the  husk  of  Indian  meal. 
Nothing  can  be  more  joyful  and  happy  than  a 
meeting  of  this  sort.  Freed  from  the  trammels  of 
fashion,  they  give  loose  to  all  the  indulgence  of 
innocent  mirth. 

However,  when  the  election  came  on,  Colonel 
Crockett,  so  far  from  being  again  beaten  by  two 
votes,  was  returned  by  a  majority  of  twenty- 
seven  hundred.  But  he  lost  a  vote  which  he  very 
much  regretted.  This  was  the  vote  of  a  Dutch- 
man, who  said,  "Crockett  was  a  clever  fellow, 
and  he  liked  him,  but  he  could  n't  vote  for  him ; 
he  tell  too  many  tarn  hard  stories  upon  de  Dutch/' 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.  149 


CHAPTER  XII. 

I  HAVE  before  observed,  that  there  are  few  men 
who  possess  in  the  same  degree  with  Colonel 
Crockett  the  power  of  gaining  men's  hearts.  And 
the  following  instance  will  serve  to  illustrate  my 
remark. 

Colonel  Crockett,  with  a  friend,  having  wan- 
dered off  a  distance  from  home,  for  the  purpose  of 
hunting,  fell  in  with  some  dozen  persons,  utter 
strangers,  engaged  in  a  spree.  Being  kindred 
spirits,  a  union  was  soon  formed ;  the  bottle  was 
passed  round,  and  its  frequent  circulation  brought 
about  a  free  interchange  of  opinions.  The  elec- 
tion for  congress  was  at  hand ;  and  the  company 
fell  to  dissecting  the  character  of  each  candidate. 
Being  violently  opposed  to  Colonel  Crockett,  they 
treated  him  with  much  severity.  Crockett  agreed 
with  them  in  all  their  denunciations,  and  was 
among  the  loudest  in  abusing  Crockett.  But  as 
the  spirit  began  to  operate,  the  company  became 
more  noisy,  and  Crockett's  suppressed  passion 
began  to  tire  of  confinement.  While  he  was 
struggling  to  keep  it  down,  one  of  the  company 
waxing  rather  warm  in  his  abuse,  jumped  up  and 
cried  out,  "  I  wish  Crockett  was  here.  I'd  send 
him  to  congress,  d — n  him — I'd  kick  him  so  he 
wouldn't  know  himself."  This  was  more  than 


150     SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

flesh  and  blood  could  stand.  The  wish  was  hardly 
expressed  before,  to  the  astonishment  of  all  pre- 
sent, Crockett  was  up  with  his  coat  off,  in  a  boxing 
attitude,  telling  them  who  he  was,  and  inviting  the 
fight.  The  company,  though  opposed  to  Crockett, 
had  become  much  pleased  with  the  two  strangers 
who  had  joined  them  ;  and  they  immediately  inter- 
posed to  prevent  the  fight.  The  novel  situation 
in  which  they  were  placed,  and  the  unexpected 
and  ludicrous  manner  in  which  the  collision  had 
been  brought  about,  rendered  it  an  easy  matter 
to  restore  harmony.  And  to  make  it  perpetual 
Crockett  invited  the  company  to  go  with  him  to 
a  neighbouring  store,  and  take  a  drink  to  better 
acquaintance ;  saying  that  he  improved  upon 
acquaintance,  and  that  the  longer  they  knew  him, 
the  better  they  would  like  him.  And  so  it  turned 
out ;  for  at  the  store  they  remained  for  some  time, 
carousing  and  listening  to  the  colonel's  anecdotes  ; 
until,  overpowered  by  his  humour  and  kindness, 
they  yielded  with  a  good  grace,  and  swore  that 
they  "  would  live  or  die  in  defence  of  Crockett." 
The  store  happened  to  be  a  precinct  for  holding 
elections  ;  and  it  was  observed  by  many  that  of 
the  twelve  men  at  one  time  so  violently  opposed 
to  him,  he  lost  but  a  single  vote. 

In  giving  to  the  public  this  sketch  of  the  back- 
woods, brief  though  it  may  be,  I  should  think  I  had 
omitted  an  essential  part  of  my  duty  were  I  to  fail 
to  mention  an  itinerant  class  of  gentry,  now  iden- 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.        151 

tified  with  every  new  country,  whose  adventures 
are  as  amusing  as  they  are  annoying  to  its 
inhabitants.  I  allude  to  the  tribe  yclept  Clock 
Pedlers,  which  term  implies  shrewdness,  intelli- 
gence, and  cunning.  A  pedler,  in  disposing  of  a 
clock,  feels  the  same  anxiety  that  a  general  does 
on  the  eve  of  a  battle;  and  displays  as  much 
mind  in  bringing  arguments  to  support  his  wishes^ 
as  Bonaparte  did  on  the  plains  Of  Waterloo  in  the 
disposition  of  his  forces.  Their  perseverance  is 
so  untiring,  and  it  has  been  so  often  crowned  with 
success,  that  a  yankee  clock  now  graces  every 
cabin  throughout  the  west.  And  the  backwoods- 
men, even  the  half-horse,  half-alligator  breed,  when 
boasting  of  their  exploits,  always  add,  "  I  can 
stand  any  thing  but  a  clock  pedler." 

Reader,  did  you  ever  know  a  full-blooded  yan- 
kee clock  pedler?  If  not,  imagine  a  tall  lank 
fellow,  with  a  thin  visage,  and  small  dark  grey 
eyes,  looking  through  you  at  every  glance,  and 
having  the  word  trade  written  in  his  every  action, 
and  you  will  then  have  an  idea  of  Mr.  Slim.  But 
to  make  it  clearer,  imagine  the  same  individual, 
with  a  pedler's  wagon,  and  what  he  would  call  a 
goodcretur,  riding  where  the  roads  are  smooth, and 
always  walking  up  hill :  and,  if  you  will  then  fill 
up  his  wagon  with  yankee  clocks,  throw  in  a 
package  or  two  of  horn  combs,  and  give  him  a 
box  of  counterfeit  jewelry,  he  will  be  ready  for  a 
trip.  Aye,  not  only  ready  for  a  trip,  but  rich. 


152  SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

And  every  article  he  parts  with,  will  carry  with 
it  a  lasting  impression  of  the  "  clock  pedler." 

Slim  never  travelled  as  if  bound  to  any  particu- 
lar place,  for  he  had  business  with  every  man  he 
met,  and  had  an  excuse  for  calling  at  every  house. 
So  that,  after  passing  through  a  neighbourhood,  he 
was  perfectly  familiar  with  the  pecuniary  concerns 
of  every  man  in  it. 

The  sun  was  getting  low,  when  Slim,  who  was 
travelling  the  high  road,  with  a  perfect  knowledge 
that  there  was  a  tavern  about  a  mile  ahead  of  him, 
left  it  to  seek  a  cabin,  which,  with  a  modest  but 
retiring  aspect,  showed  itself  in  the  woods  at  some 
short  distance.  The  smoke  floating  off  from  a  dirt 
chimney,  was  mingling  with  the  blue  ether ;  and  the 
children  with  loud,  laughing  voices,  were  playing 
in  the  yard.  But  no  sooner  did  they  see  the  clock 
pedler,  than  there  was  a  race,  each  striving  to  be 
the  first  bearer  of  the  news,  that  a  gentleman  with 
a  carriage  was  coming. 

Slim  driving  up,  halted — and  there  walked  out 
the  proprietor  of  the  cabin.  • 

"  Friend,  can't  you  give  a  stranger  in  these 
parts  some  directions?" 

"  'Bout  what,  or  where  ?" 

"  Wuh — my  horse  is  tired,  and  I  should  like 
myself  to  get  a  pallet." 

"  If  you  had  kept  the  road  about  a  mile  further, 
you  would  have  found  a  tavern :  but  if  you  can 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.          153 

rough  it  here,  do  so.  My  house  is  always  open 
to  a  stranger." 

Slim  accepts  the  invitation,  draws  the  wagon 
into  the  yard,  and  while  rubbing  his  "  cretur'r 
down,  chuckles  to  himself,  "  I've  got  that  fellow." 

They  go  to  the  house,  take  a  little  whiskey  and 
water,  eat  supper,  and  draw  around  the  fire. 

Slim  then  makes  a  dead  set  to  get  rid  of  one  of 
his  clocks. 

"  Stranger,  what's  your  name  ?" 

"  Baines." 

"An*  what's  yours?" 

"  Slim." 

"  Mr.  Baines,  I  hav  n't  shown  you  my  articles 

yet." 

"  What  sort  of  articles  ?" 

"  I  have  a  fine  clock  that  I  could  spare,  and  some 
jewelry,  and  a  few  combs.  They  would  suit  your 
daughter  there,  if  they  ain't  too  fine — but  as  I  got 
a  great  bargain  in  'em,  I  can  sell  'em  cheap." 

"  Jewelry  in  these  backwoods  !  'Twould  be 
as  much  out  of  place  on  my  gal  here,  as  my  leather 
hunting-shirt  would  be  on  you.  And  as  for  a 
clock,  I  have  a  good  one — you  see  it  there." 

Slim  finds  a  thousand  faults  with  it,  knows  the 
maker — never  did  see  one  of  that  make  worth  a 
four  pence  ha'-penny — and  winds  up  with,  "  Now 
let  me  sell  you  a  clock  worth  having." 

"  No.     I  have  one  that  answers  my  purpose." 

"  Not  so  bad  a  beginning,"  said  Slim  to  himself. 


154     SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

Slim  then  brings  out  his  horn,  or  as  he  calls  them, 
his  tortoise  shell  combs,  and  his  counterfeit  jewelry, 
all  of  which  he  warrants  to  be  genuine — over- 
whelms the  young  lady  with  compliments  upon  her 
present  appearance,  and  enlarges  upon  the  many 
additional  charms  his  articles  would  give  her — 
Tvishes  to  sell  a  comb  to  her  mother,  who  thinks 
one  for  her  daughter  will  be  sufficient.  "  Your 
daughter,  madam !"  Slim  would  never  have  sus- 
pected her  of  being  old  enough  to  have  a  daughter 
grown.  The  mother  and  daughter  begin  to  see 
new  beauties  in  the  pedler's  wares.  They  select 
such  articles  as  they  would  like  to  have,  and  join- 
ing with  the  pedler,  they  pour  forth  on  old  Baines 
one  continued  volley  of  sound  argument,  setting 
forth  the  advantages  to  be  derived  from  the  pur- 
chase. The  old  man  seeing  the  storm  that  is  about 
to  burst,  collects  within  himself  all  his  resources, 
and  for  a  long  time  parries,  with  the  skill  of  an 
expert  swordsman,  the  various  deadly  thrusts 
which  are  made  against  him.  But  his  opponents 
return  to  the  charge,  in  no  wise  discomfited.  They 
redouble  their  energies.  With  the  pedler  in  front, 
they  pour  into  the  old  man  volley  after  volley. 
No  breathing  time  is  allowed.  He  wavers — faul- 
ters.  Flesh  and  blood  can't  stand  every  thing. 
And,  as  a  wall  before  some  weP-directed  battery, 
his  resolution  grows  weak — for  a  moment  totters — 
then  falls,  leaving  a  clear  breach.  Through  this 
the  pedler  enters :  and  having  disposed  of  two 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT, 

tortoise  shell  combs,  and  a  little  double 
jewelry,  the  women  retire  from  the  field  of  action^ 
and  the  pedler,  taking  advantage  of  the  prostrate 
condition  of  his  adversary,  again  reiterates  the 
defects  in  his  clock,  and  concludes  with,  "  Now 
let  me  sell  you  one  cheap." 

"  No,  I'll  be  d— d  if  you  do,"  says  Baines. 

(Reader,  the  only  apology  for  this  oath  LV 
would  you  not  have  sworn  under  the  same  cir- 
cumstances ?) 

Slim  disappears,  but  soon  returns  bearing  in»  his 
arms  a  yankee  wooden  clock.  Baines  looks  thun- 
der-struck. 

"  Let  me  put  it  up." 

"  No,  it's  no  use." 

"  I  know  that.  I  don't  want  you  to  buy  it.  I 
only  want  to  put  it  up." 

Still  asking  permission,  yet  having  it  denied, 
Slim  is  seen  bustling  about  the  room,  until,  at  the 
end  of  the  dialogue,  his  wooden  clock  having 
encroached  upon  the  dominions  of  an  old  family 
time-piece,  is  seen  suspended  with  all  the  beauty, 
yet  bold  effrontery,  of  a  yankee  notion — while  the 
old  family  time-piece,  with  a  retiring  yet  conscious 
dignity,  is  heard  to  cry  out,  "  Oh  tempora !  Oh 
mores  !"  And  concludes  her  ejaculations  by  thun- 
dering anathemas  against  this  modern  irruption  of 
the  Goths. 

Slim  having  accomplished  so  much,  draws 
around  the  fire,  and  soothes  the  old  man  by  dis- 


156     SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

cussing  the  quality  of  his  farm.  Baines  begins  to 
go  into  the  minutiae  of  his  farming  operations,  and 
the  clocks  strike  nine. 

"  Now  just  notice  the  tone  of  my  clock.  Don't 
you  see  the  difference  ?" 

"  A  man  may  buy  land  here  at  a  dollar  an  acre." 

"  I  like  always  to  see  in  a  house  a  good  time- 
piece ;  it  tells  us  how  the  day  passes." 

"  Wife,  had  n't  we  better  kill  that  beef  in  the 
morning?" 

"  Did  you  notice  that  clock  of  mine  had  a  look- 
ing-glass in  it  ?" 

Baines  proposes  to  go  to  bed.  Slim  always 
likes  to  retire  early  ;  and,  going  to  his  apartment, 
cries  out,  "  Well  now,  old  man,  buy  that  clock. 
You  can  have  it  upon  your  own  terms.  Think 
about  it,  and  give  me  an  answer  in  the  morning." 

"  What  do  I  want  with  the  clock  ?" 

"  Oh,  you  can  have  it  upon  your  own  terms. 
Besides  a  man  of  your  appearance  ought  to  have 
a  good  clock.  I  would  n't  have  that  rotten  thing 
of  yours.  Did  you  notice  the  difference  when  they 
were  striking?" 

Baines  going  to  his  room,  says,  "  No,  I'll  be  shot 
if  I  buy  it." 

Soon  the  house  becomes  quiet.  Slim  collects  his 
scattered  forces,  and  makes  preparation  for  a 
renewal  of  the  attack  in  the  morning.  The  daugh- 
ter dreams  of  tortoise  shell  combs  and  jewelry. 
The  mother,  from  Slim's  compliment,  believes  her- 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.         157 

self  both  young  and  beautiful.  And  the  old  man 
never  turns  over  but  the  corners  of  a  clock  prick 
him  in  the  side. 

Morning  comes,  and  with  its  first  light  Slim  rises, 
feeds  his  "  cretur,"  and  meeting  with  Mr.  Baines, 
makes  many  inquiries  after  his  health,  etc. ;  pro- 
fesses to  be  in  a  hurry,  and  concludes  with,  "Well, 
as  I  must  now  leave,  what  say  you  about  the  clock?" 

"  Why,  that  I  don't  want  it." 

Slim  bolts  into  the  chamber,  where  the  ladies 
are  scarcely  dressed,  after  whom  lie  makes  many 
inquiries — then  jumps  into  a  chair,  and  sets  both 
clocks  to  striking,  ridicules  the  sound  of  the  old 
man's,  and  commences  the  well-formed  attack  of 
the  last  night,  which  he  keeps  up  for  nearly  an 
hour,  only  interrupted  by  the  repeated  striking  of 
the  clocks. 

They  then  take  a  fog-cutter,  eat  breakfast,  and 
Slim  returns  to  the  charge.  The  old  man  is  utterly 
confounded.  Slim  sees  his  advantage,  follows  him 
over  his  farm,  every  part  of  which  he  admires,  and 
which  only  supports  his  argument,  that  a  man  so 
well  fixed  ought  to  have  a  good  clock.  They  return 
to  the  house,  take  a  little  more  whiskey  and  water, 
and  Slim  is  struck  with  the  improved  appearance 
of  the  room.  His  clock  sets  it  off. 

Slim,  clapping  Baines  by  the  shoulder,  "  Well 
now,  old  gentlemen,  let  me  sell  you  the  clock." 

"But  what  shall  I  do  with  mine  ?" 

"  Oh,  I'll  buy  that.     What  do  you  ask  for  it  ?" 
o 


158     SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

"  It  ought  to  be  worth  ten  dollars." 

"  Mine  cost  me  forty  dollars — but  give  me  thirty 
to  boot,  and  it's  a  trade." 

"  Well,  I  believe— No,  I  won't  have  it." 

"  My  dear  fellow,  my  clock  is  fastened  up  now. 
Besides,  you  have  made  me  waste  all  day  here — 
you  ought  to  take  it." 

Baines  does  not  exactly  see  how  that  is — hesi- 
tates— and  Slim  proceeds  to  take  down  the  old 
clock.  It  is  all  over  now,  the  money  is  paid,  and 
Slim  is  soon  ready  to  leave — but,  before  going  out 
he  remarks,  "  It  would  be  as  well  to  leave  the  old 
clock  here,  as  I  shall  be  back  in  a  day  or  two." 
Slim  then  mounts  his  wagon  and  drives  off:  and 
methinks  I  can  see  the  rueful  countenance  of 
Baines,  while  gazing  at  the  wagon  until  it  disap- 
pears. His  thoughts  I  leave  to  the  imagination  of 
my  reader. 

About  three  years  after  the  happening  of  this 
event,  in  passing  along,  I  chanced  to  call  upon  Mr. 
Baines.  After  being  seated  a  few  minutes,  said  I, 
"Stranger,  how  came  you  with  a  yankee  clock 
in  these  wild  woods  ?" 

"  Oh,  confound  the  clock,"  said  he,  and  narrated 
the  above  story,  showing  at  the  same  time  his  old 
clock,  which,  as  yet,  had  never  been  called  for. 

Colonel  Crockett  being  elected,  we  have  to 
transfer  him  from  the  wilds  of  the  forest,  where 
his  only  aim  was  to  compass  the  ingenuity  of  wild 
beasts,  or  master  them  in  deadly  struggle,  to  a 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT. 

scene  which  required  him  at  once  to  forget  all 
former  recollections,  and  enter  upon  the  perform- 
ance of  new  duties.  We  should  not,  therefore, 
wonder,  if  the  character  which  had  been  thus  idlj 
thrown  aside,  should  in  some  inadvertent  moment 
leap  forth,  and  for  an  instant  claim  the  ascendency. 
Nor  should  it  be  a  matter  of  detraction,  if  it  had 
asserted  its  rights,  and  claimed  for  itself  entire 
supremacy.  For,  though  opinions  may  change 
with  the  wind,  the  features  of  a  man's  character 
are  too  deeply  stamped,  to  be  altered  at  will. 

So  much  rubbish  has  been  thrown  over  the 
character  which  I  have  attempted  to  trace,  that  I 
fear  that  it  appears  like  an  object  seen  through  a 
dark  fog,  rather  indistinct — its  outlines  are  not 
clearly  perceptible.  I  must  therefore  be  pardoned, 
while,  for  an  instant,  I  set  it  forth  in  a  clearer  light 

To  analyze  the  mind  of  Colonel  Crockett,  and 
assign  the  motives  which  have  prompted  him  to 
do  those  particular  acts  which  have  given  him  so 
much  notoriety,  must  fall  to  the  lot  of  some  philo- 
sopher. For  myself,  I  do  not  feel  disposed  to  dip 
as  deeply  in  metaphysics  as  would  be  requisite  to 
give  this  matter  a  .fair  elucidation.  But  I  take 
great  pleasure  in  bearing  testimony  to  the  high 
natural  endowments  of  this  gentleman ;  for  I  have 
never  seen  a  character,  strip  it  of  all  adventitious 
circumstances,  which  I  could  take  more  pleasure 
in  beholding.  Precluded  by  necessity,  from  all 
intercourse  with  books — shut  out  by  circumstances, 


160  SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

until  late  years,  from  that  species  of  society  which 
alone  could  have  benefited  him — he  is  really 

"  Kara  avis,  et  simillima  nigroque  cygno  ;" 

and  yet,  at  the  same  time,  a  fine  specimen  of 
human  nature. 

Many  men  without  the  advantages  of  education, 
have  been  great ;  but  it  was  reserved  for  the  gen- 
tleman whose  character  I  have  attempted  to 
sketch,  bereft  of  fortune,  of  education,  and  of  the 
advantages  of  society,  to  be  taken  wild  from  the 
woods,  and  transferred  to  the  floor  of  a  legislative 
hall.  And  yet  in  Colonel  Crockett,  in  this  charac- 
ter, notwithstanding  all  his  eccentricity,  we  find 
many  of  those  traits  which,  of  themselves,  ennoble 
and  add  lustre  to  our  race.  What  spring  of  action, 
other  than  generosity  the  most  pure,  could  have 
often  induced  him  to  breast  the  storms  of  winter, 
and  force  his  way  through  heaps  of  drifted  snow, 
to  supply  the  wants  of  some  poor  famished  family, 
dependent  upon  the  precarious  subsistence  of 
hunting,  as  all  families  must  be,  who  first  make 
war  with  the  forest.  Was  there  another  motive, 
for  having  often  rescued  from  the  hands  of  an 
officer,  by  his  own  means,  the  bed  of  a  widowed 
woman  with  helpless  children  ?  Was  there  an- 
other motive,  for  having  often,  with  his  hard  earn- 
ings, purchased  a  blanket  for  a  suffering  soldier  ? 
What  spring  of  action,  other  than  a  high  and 
noble  daring  of  soul,  could  have  often  prompted 
him,  at  the  thoughtful  hour  of  midnight,  when 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.          161 

imbosomed  deep  in  a  forest,  to  peril  his  life  for 
the  sake  of  a  dog — for  the  sake  of  that  faithful 
animal  which  could  make  no  requital  ?  Here 
there  was  no  approving  voice  of  the  world  to 
urge  him  on — no  loud  acclamation  of  a  crowd  to 
stimulate  to  action. 

Many  a  spirit  will  dare  do  a  deed  in  the  face 
of  the  world,  which  rather  than  do  when  alone, 
unseen,  and  apart  from  assistance,  it  would  crouch 
and  fawn  like  a  guilty  thing.  But,  metliinks,  it  is 
only  in  a  moment  of  this  sort  that  the  high  and 
lofty  attributes  of  our  nature  exhibit  themselves 
as  the  true  gift  of  that  Being  after  whom  we  were 
fashioned.  There  are  many  persons  who  will 
look  upon  these  traits  of  character  as  mere  acts 
of  folly  ;  but  to  them  nature  has  indeed  been  poor. 
They  never  felt  her  more  generous  impulses.  We 
need  not,  therefore,  wonder,  when  this  character 
has  been  assailed,  that  presses  have  been  closed 
to  his  vindication,  and  that  torrents  of  abuse,  which 
few  in  this  world  are  able  to  withstand,  have  often 
burst  upon  him  in  all  their  fury.  Notwithstanding 
this,  I  do  not  mean  to  be  understood  as  saying 
that  Colonel  Crockett  is  entirely  fit  for  the  station 
which  he  has  often  filled  through  the  kindness  of 
his  constituents ;  for  the  necessary  qualifications 
of  a  representative  are  various  and  many,  and  we 
rarely  find  them  combined  in  the  same  individual ; 
yet,  so  far  as  the  most  perfect  frankness  of  manner, 
an  independence  of  which  few  can  boast,  and  an 
02 


162     SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

honesty  of  purpose  which  no  one  doubts,  are  con- 
sidered requisites,  Colonel  Crockett  is  qualified  in 
an  eminent  degree.  When  one  suddenly  changes 
the  faith  which  for  a  long  time  he  has  professed, 
and  is  benefited  by  the  change,  we  may  attribute 
to  him  some  improper  motive  ;  but  if  by  changing 
he  sacrifices  every  thing,  we  must  believe  it  the 
effect  of  principle,  and  there  is.  nothing  left  at 
which  even  envy  can  cavil.  This  was  the  case 
with  him ;  but  in  conversing  on  the  subject,  he 
laughs  and  says,  "  I  have  never  changed.  I  think 
now  as  I  did  when  I  started,  but  Jackson  has 
turned  round."  "  /  had  rather  be  politically  damned 
than  hypocritically  immortalized?  is  a  sentiment 
which  would  have  honoured  a  far  more  erudite 
society  than  that  of  the  backwoods;  and  those 
gentlemen  who  have  supported  its  author  have  the 
pleasure  of  knowing  that  their  votes  were  confer- 
red on  one  whose  intentions  at  least  were  honest 
To  test  the  worth  of  a  man,  strip  him  of  the  acci- 
dental advantages  which  fortune  may  have  given 
him ;  and,  pursuing  that  plan,  how  few  would  be 
found  superior  to  the  subject  of  this  brief  sketch. 
To  a  person  who,  like  myself,  could  never  behold 
the  magic  which  gave  to  a  man  character  merely 
because  he  was  rich,  or  because  he  was  descended 
from  some  proud  family,  it  is  pleasant  to  contem- 
plate one  rising  superior  to  fortune,  and  possessing 
at  the  same  time  the  ennobling  virtues  of  our  race. 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.        163 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

COLONEL  CROCKETT  was  no  doubt  highly  grati- 
fied by  the  result  of  the  election.  His  triumph 
was  a  forcible  proof  of  the  power  of  native  intel- 
lect struggling  against  opposing  circumstances ; 
and,  anticipating  much  pleasure  in  the  boundless 
field  of  enterprise  which  lay  before  him,  in  the 
winter  of  1827  he  emerged  from  the  wild  woods 
and  occupied  a  seat  in  congress.  Unacquainted 
with  forms,  and  a  stranger  to  etiquette,  his  ap- 
pearance gave  rise  to  much  amusement.  But 
few  persons  ventured  more  than  once  to  entertain 
themselves  at  his  expense.  Though  rude  in  speech, 
his  repartee  never  failed  of  its  object.  The  noto- 
riety which  he  had  obtained  from  several  speeches 
made  before  he  reached  Washington,  rendered 
him  conspicuous  as  an  original,  and  induced  almost 
every  person  to  seek  his  society. 

But  in  order  to  keep  up  the  thread  of  my  nar- 
rative, it  will  be  necessary  to  accompany  him  on 
his  journey  from  his  residence  to  Washington 
City.  "When  I  left  home,"  said  he,  "I  was 
happy,  devilish,  and  full  of  fun.  I  bade  adieu  to 
my  friends,  dogs,  and  rifle,  and  took  the  stage, 
where  I  met  with  much  variety  of  character, 
and  amused  myself  when  my  humour  prompted. 
Being  fresh  from  the  backwoods,  my  stories 


SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

amused  my  companions,  and  I  passed  my  time 
pleasantly.  When  I  arrived  at  Raleigh  the  wea- 
ther was  cold  and  rainy,  and  we  were  all  dull  and 
tired  ;  and  upon  going  in  the  tavern,  where  I  was 
an  entire  stranger,  I  did  not  feel  more  comfortable, 
for  the  room  was  crowded,  and  the  crowd  did  not 
give  way  that  I  might  come  to  the  fire.  I  felt  so 
mean  from  being  jolted  in  the  stage,  I  thought  I 
had  rather  fight  than  not :  and  I  was  rooting  my 
way  to  the  fire,  not  in  a  good  humour,  when  some 
fellow  staggered  up  towards  me,  and  cried  out, 
'  Hurrah  for  Adams.'  Said  I, '  Stranger,  you  had 
better  hurrah  for  hell,  and  praise  your  own 
country.' 

"  Said  he, '  And  who  are  you?' 

" '  I'm  that  same  David  Crockett,  fresh  from  the 
backwoods,  half-horse,  half-alligator,  a  little  touched 
with  the  snapping-turtle ;  can  wade  the  Mississippi, 
leap  the  Ohio,  ride  upon  a  streak  of  lightning,  and 
slip  without  a  scratch  down  a  honey  locust ;  can 
whip  my  weight  in  wild  cats, — and  if  any  gentle- 
man pleases,  for  a  ten  dollar  bill,  he  may  throw  in 
a  panther, — hug  a  bear  too  close  for  comfort,  and 
eat  any  man  opposed  to  Jackson.' 

"  While  I  was  telling  what  I  could  do,"  said  the 
colonel,  "  the  fellow's  eyes  kept  getting  larger  and 
larger,  until  I  thought  they  would  pop  out.  I 
never  saw  fellows  look  as  they  all  did.  They 
cleared  the  fire  for  me,  and  when  I  got  a  little 
warm,  I  looked  about,  but  my  Adams  man  was 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.         165 

gone/'  I  asked  Colonel  Crockett  if  he  had  ever 
used  the  above  expressions  before  ?  He  said, 
"  Never ;  that  he  felt  devilish,  and  they  all  popped 
into  his  head  at  the  time  ;  and  that  he  should 
never  have  thought  of  them  again  if  they  had  n't 
gone  the  rounds  of  all  the  papers." 

"  At  Raleigh,"  continues  the  colonel,  "  I  became 
pretty  well  acquainted,  and  left  there  for  Peters- 
burg, Va.,  where  happening  to  get  hold  of  a 
newspaper,  the  first  thing  I  saw  was  a  piece 
headed  'Hero  of  the  West/  giving  an  account  of 
my  visit  to  Raleigh.  I  discovered  that  it  was  a 
source  of  much  amusement ;  and,  not  wishing  to 
be  known,  I  determined  to  obey  one  of  our  back- 
woods sayings, '  Lay  low  and  keep  dark,  stranger, 
and  prchtr/)*  you'll  sec  some  fun/  And  so  I  did  ; 
for  I  never  let  any  body  know  who  1  was  until  1 
got  to  Washington." 

An  anecdote  is  related  as  having  happened  to 
the  colonel  somewhere  on  his  route,  which  par- 
takes strongly  of  originality.  While  at  dinner,  at 
some  public  house,  where  the  waiters  were  very 
officious  in  their  services,  and  extremely  polite  to 
the  colonel,  handing  to  him  every  thing  on  the 
table,  among  other  things  they  pressed  him  to 
take  some  chicken;  he  declined,  begging  them 
"  if  they  cared  any  thing  for  him  to  take  it  away, 
for  that  he  had  been  fed  upon  chickens  until  he 
was  nearly  feathered." 

He  arrived  at  Washington,  and  had  been  there 


166  SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

but  a  short  time,  when  he  received  a  note  inviting 
him  to  dine  with  the  president.  Unaccustomed 
to  formality,  he  did  not  exactly  comprehend  its 
meaning,  and  required  of  a  friend  an  explanation, 
which  was  cheerfully  given ;  and  who  also  being 
invited,  tendered  his  services  to  go  with  the  colo- 
nel and  introduce  him.  This  was  done  accordingly, 
and  propriety  of  action  marked  his  behaviour.  I 
was  much  struck  with  his  simplicity  of  manner  in 
narrating  to  me  this  event.  "  I  was  wild  from  the 
backwoods,"  said  he,  "  and  1  did  n't  know  nothing 
about  eating  dinner  with  the  big  folks  of  our  coun- 
try ;  and  how  should  I,  having  been  a  hunter  all 
my  life  ?  I  had  eat  most  of  my  dinners  upon  a 
log  in  the  woods,  and  sometimes  no  dinner  at  all. 
I  knew  whether  I  ate  dinner  with  the  president  or 
not,  was  a  matter  of  no  consequence,  for  my  con- 
stituents were  not  to  be  benefited  by  it.  I  did 
not  go  to  court  the  president,  for  I  was  opposed 
to  him  in  principle,  and  had  no  favours  to  ask  at 
his  hands.  I  was  afraid,  however,  I  should  be 
awkward,  as  I  was  so  entirely  a  stranger  to 
fashion  ;  and  in  going  along,  I  resolved  to  observe 
the  conduct  of  my  friend,  Mr.  Verplanck,  and  to 
do  as  he  did ;  and  I  know,"  said  he,  "  that  I  did 
behave  myself  right  well." 

The  colonel's  originality  of  character  induced 
some  person  to  write  a  humorous  yet  false  ac- 
count of  this  dinner  scene,  which  could  never 
have  been  believed  by  any  person  who  knew  him, 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.         167 

but  which  the  colonel  thought  proper  to  deny,  as 
it  was  used  to  his  prejudice  by  his  enemies. 

The  account  alluded  to  is  here  inserted,  and 
with  it  the  certificates  which  go  to  disprove  it. 
The  colonel  is  supposed  to  have  returned  from 
Washington,  after  the  first  winter,  and  to  be  at  a 
house-raising  among  his  constituents,  where,  to 
their  numerous  inquiries  relative  to  his  visit  to 
Washington,  he  gives  the  following  account : 

"  The  first  thing  I  did,"  said  Davy,  "  after  I  got 
to  Washington,  was  to  go  to  the  president's.  I 
stepped  into  the  president's  house — thinks  I,  who's 
afeard  ?  If  I  did  n't  I  wish  I  may  be  shot.  Says 
I, « Mr.  Adams,  I'm  Mr.  Crockett,  from  Tennes- 
see.' «  So,'  says  he, '  how  d'ye  do,  Mr.  Crockett?' 
and  he  shook  me  by  the  hand,  although  he  know'd 
I  went  the  whole  hog  for  Jackson.  If  he  did  n't 
I  wish  I  may  be  shot.  Not  only  that,  but  he  sent 
me  a  printed  ticket  to  dine  with  him.  I've  got  it 
in  my  pocket  yet.  (Here  the  printed  ticket  was 
exhibited  for  the  admiration  of  the  whole  com- 
pany.) I  went  to  dinner,  and  I  walked  all  round 
the  long  table,  looking  for  something  that  I  liked. 
At  last  I  took  my  seat  just  beside  a  fat  goose,  and 
I  helped  myself  to  as  much  of  it  as  I  wanted.  But 
I  had  n't  took  three  bites,  when  I  looked  away  up 
the  table  at  a  man  they  called  Task,  (attache.) 
He  was  talking  French  to  a  woman  on  t'other 
side  of  the  table.  He  dodged  his  head  and  she 
dodged  her's,  and  then  they  got  to  drinking  wine 


108     SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

across  the  table.  But  when  I  looked  back  again, 
my  plate  was  gone,  goose  and  all.  So  I  jist  cast 
my  eyes  down  to  t'other  end  of  the  table,  and  sure 
enough,  I  seed  a  white  man  walking  off  with 
my  plate.  I  says,  *  Hello,  mister,  bring  back  my 
plate/  He  fetched  it  back  in  a  hurry,  as  you  may 
think ;  and  when  he  set  it  down  before  me,  how 
do  you  think  it  was  ?  Licked  as  clean  as  my 
hand.  If  it  was  n't  I  wish  I  may  be  shot.  Says 
he, '  What  will  you  have,  sir?'  And  says  I, '  You 
may  well  say  that,  after  stealing  my  goose.'  And 
he  began  to  laugh.  Then,  says  I,  '  Mister,  laugh 
if  you  please  ;  but  I  don't  half  like  sich  tricks  upon 
travellers.'  I  then  filled  my  plate  with  bacon  and 
greens ;  and  whenever  I  looked  up  or  down  the 
table,  I  held  on  to  my  plate  with  my  left  hand. 
When  we  were  all  done  eating,  they  cleared 
every  thing  off  the  table,  and  took  away  the  table- 
cloth. And  what  do  you  think  ?  There  was 
another  cloth  under  it.  If  there  was  n't  I  wish  I 
may  be  shot.  Then  I  saw  a  man  coming  along 
carrying  a  great  glass  thing,  with  a  glass  handle 
below,  something  like  a  candlestick.  It  was  stuck 
full  of  little  glass  cups,  with  something  in  them 
that  looked  good  to  eat.  Says  I, '  Mister,  bring 
that  thing  here.'  Thinks  I,  let's  taste  them  first. 
They  were  mighty  sweet  and  good — so  I  took 
six  of  'em.  If  I  did  n't  I  wish  I  may  be  shot." 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT. 

Correspondence  fotween  Mr.  Crockett  of  Tennessee, 
Mr.  Clark  of  Kentucky,  and  Mr.  Verplanck  of 
New-York,  all  three  members  of  the  House  of 
Representatives. 

HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES,  / 
January  3d,  1829.          $ 

Dear  Sir — Forbearance  ceases  to  be  a  virtue, 
when  it  is  construed  into  an  acquiescence  in  false- 
hoods, or  a  tame  submission  to  unprovoked  insults. 

I  have  seen  published  and  republished  in  various 
papers  of  the  United  States,  a  slander,  no  doubt 
characteristic  of  its  author,  purporting  to  be  an 
account  of  my  first  visit  to  the  president  of  the 
nation.  I  have  thus  long  passed  the  publications 
alluded  to  with  silent  contempt.  But  supposing 
that  its  republication  is  intended,  as  in  its  origin  it 
evidently  was,  to  do  me  an  injury,  I  can  submit  to 
it  no  longer,  without  calling  upon  gentlemen  who 
were  present  to  do  me  justice.  I  presume,  sir, 
that  you  have  a  distinct  recollection  of  what  passed 
at  the  dinner"  alluded  to ;  and  you  will  do  me  the 
favour  to  say,  distinctly,  whether  the  enclosed 
publication  is  not  false.  I  would  not  make  this 
appeal,  if  it  were  not  that  like  other  men  I  have 
enemies,  who  would  take  much  pleasure  in  mag- 
nifying the  plain  rusticity  of  my  manners  into  the 
most  unparalleled  grossness  and  indelicacy.  I  have 
never  enjoyed  the  advantages  which  many  have 
abused  ;  but  I  am  proud  to  hope,  that  your  answer 
will  show  that  I  have  never  so  far  prostituted  the 


170     SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

humble  advantages  I  do  enjoy,  as  to  act  the  part 
attributed  to  me.     An  early  answer  is  requested. 
I  am,  sir,  most  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

DAVID  CROCKETT. 
Hon.  JAMES  CLARK,  of  Ky. 

A  similar  request  to  the  above,  was  communi- 
cated to  the  Hon.  Mr.  VERPLANCK,  of  New- York. 

WASHINGTON  CITY,  Jan.  4,  1829. 

Dear  Colonel — In  your  letter  of  yesterday,  you 
requested  me  to  say,  if  the  ludicrous  newspaper 
account  of  your  behaviour  when  dining  with  the 
president,  which  you  enclosed  to  me,  is  true  ? 

I  was  at  the  same  dinner,  and  know  that  the 
statement  is  destitute  of  every  thing  like  truth.  I 
sat  opposite  to  you  at  the  table,  and  held  occa- 
sional conversation  with  you,  and  observed  nothing 
in  your  behaviour  but  what  was  marked  with  the 
strictest  propriety. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  great  respect, 
Your  obedient  servant, 

JAMES  CLARK. 

Col.  D.  CROCKETT. 

WASHINGTON,  Jan.  4,  1829. 

Dear  Sir — I  have  already  several  times  antici- 
pated your  request,  in  regard  to  the  newspaper 
account  of  your  behaviour  at  the  president's  table, 
as  I  have  repeatedly  contradicted  it  in  various 
companies  where  I  heard  it  spoken  of.  I  dined 
there  in  company  with  you  at  the  time  alluded  to, 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.        171 

and  had,  I  recollect,  a  good  deal  of  conversation 
with  you.  Your  behaviour  there  was,  I  thought, 
perfectly  becoming  and  proper;  and  I  do  not 
recollect  or  believe  that  you  said  or  did  any  thing 
resembling  the  newspaper  account. 
I  am  yours, 

GULIAN  C.  VERPLANCK.      ' 
Col.  CROCKETT. 

That  Colonel  Crockett  should  have  had  to  pro- 
duce certificates  of  his  behaviour,  is  certainly  a 
novel  circumstance,  but  tends  much  to  prove  how 
various  were  the  attacks,  and  how  wanton  the 
abuse  which  was  heaped  upon  him.  So  much 
use  was  made  by  his  enemies  in  his  own  district, 
of  the  above  publication,  that  justice  to  himself 
induced  him  unwillingly  to  appear  before  the  pub- 
lic, in  order  to  vindicate  himself  from  so  ridiculous 
a  charge.  His  rusticity  of  manner,  blended  with 
great  good  humour,  frequently  gave  rise  to  much 
fun.  He  was  ever  the  humorous  hero  of  his  own 
story,  and  defended  himself  from  the  sallies  of  his 
acquaintances  with  so  much  pertinacity,  that  no 
time,  no  place,  not  even  the  pomp  of  wealth,  nor 
the  pride  of  name,  could  awe  him  into  silence, 
when  jocosely  assailed.  The  following  circum- 
stance is  a  forcible  proof  of  this  remark.  "  After 
the  dinner  was  over,"  said  the  colonel,  "  I,  with 
the  remainder  of  the  company,  retired  to  the 
famous  *  East  Room.'  I  had  drank  a  glass  or  two 
of  wine,  and  felt  in  a  right  good  humour,  and  was 


172    SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

walking  about  gazing  at  the  furniture,  and  at  the 
splendid  company  with  which  it  was  filled.  I 
noticed  that  many  persons  observed  me  ;  and  just 
at  that  time,  a  young  gentleman  stepped  up  to  me 
and  said, '  I  presume,  sir,  you  are  from  the  back- 
woods V 

"  Yes  sir." 

"  A  friend  whispering  to  me  at  the  time,  said  it 
was  the  president's  son ;  and  as  I  had  never  been 
introduced  to  him,  I  know'd  he  wanted  to  have 
some  fun  at  my  expense,  because,  after  I  spoke  the 
first  word,  you  might  have  heard  a  pin  drop.  All 
was  silence.  So  I  thought  I  would  keep  it  up. 
Mr.  A.  then  asked  me,  '  What  were  the  amuse- 
ments in  the  backwoods.' 

"  Oh,"  said  I,  "  fun  alive  there.  Our  people  are 
all  divided  into  classes,  and  each  class  has  a  par- 
ticular sort  of  fun;  so  a  man  is  never  at  a  loss, 
because  he  knows  which  class  he  belongs  to." 

"  <  How  is  that  V  "  said  Mr.  A. 

"  We  have  four  classes,"  said  I,  "  in  the  back- 
woods. The  first  class  have  a  table  with  some 
green  truck  on  it,  and  it's  got  pockets ;  and  they 
knock  a  ball  about  on  it  to  get  it  into  the  pockets," 
(billiard  table,)  "  and  they  see  a  mighty  heap  of 
fun.  They  are  called  the  quality  of  our  country, 
but  to  that  class  I  don't  belong." 

ft  Then  there  is  the  second  class,"  said  I.  "  They 
take  their  rifles  and  go  out  about  sunrise,  and  put 
up  a  board  with  a  black  spot  on  it,  about  a  hun- 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.         173 

dred  yards  oft',  and  they  shoot  from  morning  till 
night  for  any  thing  yon  please.  They  see  a 
mighty  heap  of  fun  too ;  and  I  tell  you  what,  I  am 
mighty  hard  to  beat  as  a  second  rate  hand  in  that 
class." 

"  The  third  class/'  said  I,  "  is  composed  of  our 
little  boys.  They  go  out  about  light  with  their 
bows  and  arrows,  and  put  up  a  leaf  against  a  tree, 
and  shoot  from  morning  till  night  for  persimons, 
or  whortleberries,  or  some  such  thing ;  and  they 
see  a  mighty  heap  of  fun  too." 

"  But  the  fourth  class,"  said  I,  "  oh,  bless  me ! 
they  have  fun.  This  is  composed  of  the  wromen, 
and  all  who  choose  to  join  them.  When  they 
want  a  frolic,  they  just  go  into  the  woods  and 
scrape  away  the  leaves,  and  sprinkle  the  ground 
with  corn  bran,  and  build  some  large  light  wood 
fires  round  about,  raise  a  banjo,  and  begin  to  dance. 
May  be,  you  think  they  don't  go  their  death  upon 
a  jig,  but  they  do,  for  I  have  frequently  gone  there 
the  next  morning,  and  raked  up  my  two  hands  full 
of  toe  nails." 

"  By  the  time,"  says  the  colonel,  "  I  had  finished 
giving  an  account  of  our  amusements,  the  wrhole 
house  was  convulsed  with  laughter,  and  I  slipped 
off  and  went  to  my  lodgings." 

I  asked  him,  what  prompted  him  to  tell  the 
above  story? 

He  said,  that  "most  persons  believed  every 
thing  which  was  said  about  the  backwoods,  and 

P2 


174  SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

he  thought  he  would  tell  a  good  story  while  he  was 
at  it.  Besides,"  said  he,  "  the  object  in  questioning 
me  at  such  a  place  was  to  confuse  me,  and  laugh 
at  my  simplicity,  and  I  thought  I  would  humour 
the  thing." 

The  above  scene  gave  rise  to  much  amusement, 
and  considering  the  company  in  whose  presence 
it  occurred,  it  is  certainly  without  a  parallel.  And 
nothing  could  give  a  more  forcible  proof  of  the 
most  perfect  independence  of  character — perfectly 
at  home  in  the  presence  of  a  president,  foreign 
ministers,  senators,  congress-men,  and  the  polished 
ladies  of  Washington  City. 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.        175 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

As  a  member  of  congress,  Colonel  Crockett  was* 
ever  at  his  post,  faithful  and  assiduous  in  his  atten- 
tion to  the  welfare  of  his  constituents ;  and  his- 
great  personal  popularity  rendered  him  a  valua- 
ble representative  to  his  district.  He  who  con- 
sumes most  time,  and  makes  most  noise,  is  rarely 
a  serviceable  member.  But  he  attends  to  the 
interests  of  his  constituents,  who,  without  wasting 
time  in  idle  declamation,  is  ever  at  his  post,  voting- 
upon  all  subjects  which  in  any  manner  affect  the 
people  of  his  district.  A  political  life  of  this  nature 
would  merely  form  a  tissue  of  dry  details,  unin- 
teresting and  unnecessary,  save  as  a  work  of 
reference. 

Although  possessed  of  many  requisites  for  a 
representative,  it  is  not  his  political  life  which  lias- 
given  him  so  much  notoriety,  but  his  talent  for 
humour  and  originality.  As  a  boon  companion,  no 
one  stood  higher  than  Colonel  Crockett ;  and  his 
conduct  has  been  often  characterized  by  acts  of 
generosity,  which  reflect  much  credit  upon  him  as 
a  man,  and  lustre  upon  the  state  of  society  m 
which  he  originated.  Few  persons,  with  the  same 
means,  have  ever  performed  more  acts  of  kind- 
ness, and  still  fewer  with  so  perfect  a  disregard  to 
all  future  recompense.  Were  it  proper,  these 


176  SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

remarks  might  be  illustrated  by  private  anecdotes, 
which  would  place  the  character  of  Colonel 
Crockett  in  a  very  fair  light.  It  has  become  cus- 
tomary'in  the  common  publications  of  the  day,  to 
make  every  backwoodsman  rant  and  rave  in 
uncouth  sayings,  and  in  new  coined  words,  diffi- 
cult of  pronunciation.  This  being  done, 'the  cha- 
racter is  finished,  and  the  hero  turned  loose  as  a 
genuine  son  of  the  wild  woods.  Nothing  can 
argue  a  greater  ignorance  of  the  true  character 
of  a  backwoodsman,  than  a  sketch  of  this  nature. 
I  have  before  remarked,  that  so  far  from  this  being 
true,  they  express  themselves  in  the  simplest  lan- 
guage possible.  The  most  extravagant  ideas  they 
clothe  in  the  simplest  words,  and  delight  us  by 
quaintness  of  expression  and  originality  of  concep- 
tion. If  there  be  any  one  distinguishing  feature  in 
their  character,  it  is  a  generosity  and  nobleness  of 
soul,  seldom  met  with  in  a  more  polished  society. 
Did  I  want  a  friend  who  would  stick  by  me 
through  all  the  trials  of  adversity  in  life,  give  me 
a  backwoodsman,  a  stranger  to  form  and  fashion, 
who,  uncorrupted  by  intercourse  with  the  world, 
has  held  communion  only  with  his  own  heart,  and 
worshipped  God  only  in  the  beauty  of  nature. 
Though  their  rusticity  may  often  give  rise  to 
amusement,  yet  there  is  a  high  and  lofty  bearing 
in  their  deportment.  They  have  been  so  long 
companions  with  danger,  that  they  become  stran- 
gers to  fear.  They  have  nothing  to  conceal,  and 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.         177 

are  consequently  frank  in  their  manners.  It  would 
be  difficult  to  hire  an  inhabitant  of  a  polished  city 
to  do,  what  a  backwoodsman  first  did  from  neces- 
sity, and  habit  afterward  renders  familiar.  To 
sleep  in  the  wild  woods  apart  from  assistance,  with 
no  music  save  the  hungry  howling  of  the  beasts  of 
the  forest,  and  to  cross  rivers  whose  depth  is  un- 
known, at  all  seasons  of  the  year,  form  but  small 
items  in  the  life  of  a  backwoodsman.  To  me  it 
seems,  that  a  determined  purpose  of  mind  is  a 
part  of  their  character.  Often  have  I  been  struck 
with  their  fearlessness,  upon  seeing  them  in  the 
most  inclement  season  ride  their  horses  into  a 
stream,  careless  of  its  depth  or  hidden  dangers, 
and  force  their  way  across. 

In  sketching  the  life  of  Colonel  Crockett,  we 
find  so  much  levity,  good  sense,  good  humour, 
and  such  a  propensity  for  fun,  that  his  character 
is  often  seen  in  different  lights.  Yet,  I  think,  any 
person  may  recognise  the  original  from  the  picture 
drawn.  The  following  circumstance  shows  a  sin- 
gular conception  of  ideas. 

During  the  colonel's  first  winter  in  Washington, 
a  caravan  of  wild  animals  was  brought  to  the  city 
and  exhibited.  Large  crowds  attended  the  exhi- 
bition ;  and,  prompted  by  common  curiosity,  one 
evening  Colonel  Crockett  attended. 

"  I  had  just  got  in,"  said  he :  "  the  house  was 
very  much  crowded,  and  the  first  thing  I  noticed 
was  two  wild  cats  in  a  cage.  Some  acquaintance 


178    SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

asked  me  *  if  they  were  like  the  wild  cats  in  the 
backwoods  ?'  and  I  was  looking  at  them,  when 
one  turned  over  and  died.  The  keeper  ran  up 
and  threw  some  water  on  it.  Said  I, '  Stranger, 
y ou  are  wasting  time.  My  looks  kills  them  things ; 
and  you  had  much  better  hire  me  to  go  out  here, 
or  I  will  kill  every  varmint  you've  got  in  your 
caravan/  While  I  and  he  were  talking,  the  lions 
began  to  roar.  Said  I,  'I  won't  trouble  the 
American  lion,  because  he  is  some  kin  to  me,  but 
turn  out  the  English  lion — turn  him  out — turn  him 
out — I  can  whip  him  for  a  ten  dollar  bill,  and  the 
xebra  may  kick  occasionally  during  the  fight.' 
This  created  some  fun ;  and  I  then  went  to  another 
part  of  the  room,  where  a  monkey  was  riding  a 
pony.  I  was  looking  on,  and  some  member  said 
to  me,  '  Crockett,  don't  that  monkey  favour  Gene- 
ral Jackson  ?'  '  No,'  said  I,  '  but  111  tell  you  who 
it  does  favour.  It  looks  like  one  of  your  boarders, 

Mr. ,  of  Ohio.'     There  was  a  loud  burst  of 

laughter  at  my  saying  so  ;  and,  upon  turning  round, 

I  saw  Mr. ,  of  Ohio,  within  about  three  feet 

of  me.  I  was  in  a  right  awkward  fix ;  but  I  bowred 
to  the  company,  and  told  'em,  '  I  had  either  slan- 
dered the  monkey,  or  Mr. ,  of  Ohio,  and  if 

they  would  tell  me  which,  I  would  beg  his  pardon.' 
The  thing  passed  off;  and  next  morning,  as  I  was 
walking  the  pavement  before  my  door,  a  member 

came  up  to  me,  and  said,  '  Crockett,  Mr. , 

of  Ohio,  is  goirjg  to  challenge  you.'   Said  I, '  Well, 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.        179 

tell  him  I  am  a  fighting  fowl.  I  'spose  if  I  am 
challenged  I  have  the  right  to  choose  my  wea- 
pons V  '  Oh  yes,'  said  he.  *  Then  tell  him,'  said 
I,  *  that  I  will  fight  him  with  bows  and  arrows.' " 
There  was  another  circumstance  occurred  while 
Colonel  Crockett  was  in  Washington,  which  goes 
far  to  show  how  perfectly  a  stranger  to  every 
thing  like  fashion  he  is.  A  young  gentleman  of 
worth  and  respectability  had  been  paying  his 
addresses  to  a  daughter  of  Colonel  Crockett ;  and 
having  obtained  her  consent,  wrote  to  her  father 
in  Washington,  requesting  his  permission  that 
they  might  be  married.  The  colonel,  approving 
the  match,  wrote  in  answer  to  his  letter  the 
following  laconic  reply : 

"  WASHINGTON, . 

Dear  Sir : 

I  received  your  letter.     Go  ahead. 

DAVID  CROCKETT." 

I  have  never  known  a  character  more  free  from 
restraint  under  all  circumstances,  or  more  truly 
independent,  than  Colonel  Crockett.  After  the 
adjournment  of  congress,  the  colonel  returned 
home ;  and  he  who  but  a  short  time  before  had 
been  mixing  with  the  fashion  of  our  own  and  of 
foreign  countries,  and  representing  a  district  com- 
posed of  seventeen  counties,  in  the  congress  of 
one  of  the  first  nations  upon  earth,  might  then  be 
found  with  a  hoe  or  plough,  labouring  for  the 
subsistence  of  his  family.  What  a  beautiful  com- 


180  SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

mentary  is  his  election  upon  our  republican  insti- 
tutions !  Not  only  a  proof  that  the  power  of  our 
institutions  is  derived  directly  from  the  people, 
but  what  an  example  of  the  easy  access  of  the 
humblest  individual  to  the  highest  offices  within 
the  gift  of  our  government — that  he,  whom  the 
satellites  of  a  regal  government  would  despise  for 
his  poverty — that  he,  whose  daily  labour  in  the 
field  was  required  to  provide  the  necessaries  of 
life  for  a  family — that  he,  entirely  uneducated, 
should,  because  the  people  willed  it,  be  called 
upon  to  represent  persons  of  wealth,  of  family 
influence,  and  of  education :  not  a  greater  mark 
of  their  power,  than  that  he  whom  our  senate  had 
degraded,  should  be  chosen  by  the  people  to  pre- 
side over  the  same  body. 

In  attending  to  the  duties  of  his  farm,  and  in 
hunting,  when  the  season  permitted,  Colonel^ 
Crockett  spent  his  time  between  the  meetings  of 
congress.  Having  gathered  in  his  corn,  and  pro- 
vided for  the  wants  of  his  family,  the  time  drew 
near  for  him  to  return  to  Washington.  For  a 
change  of  scenery,  he  determined  to  take  the 
steam-boat  as  far  as  Wheeling,  and,  accompanied 
by  several  friends,  he  went  down  to  Mill's  Point 
for  that  purpose.  There  they  had  to  wait  some 
time  for  a  boat.  There  was  likewise  a  young 
gentleman  present,  who  was  waiting  to  go  down 
the  river.  At  length  a  boat  appeared,  descending 
the  river.  The  young  gentleman  raised  a  signal 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.        181 

and  hallooed,  but  all  in  vain.  The  boat  swept 
gracefully  by,  heedless  of  his  cries.  Colonel 
Crockett  having  witnessed  the  scene,  and  seeing 
the  situation  of  the  young  man,  turned  to  him — 
"  Stranger,  do  you  know  what  I  would  have  done 
with  that  boat  if  I  had  been  in  your  place  ?" 

"  No.     What  could  you  have  done  ?" 

"Well,  I'll  tell  you  what  I'd  have  done.  I 
would  just  have  walked  right  on  board  of  her, 
taken  her  by  the  bill,  and  have  dipped  her  under. 
D — n  'em,  they  are  all  afraid  of  me  upon  these 
waters,  but  they  don't  know  you.  You'll  see  when 
I  speak  to  them  if  they  don't  obey  me." 

It  was  but  a  short  time  before  a  boat  was  seen 
struggling  up  against  the  current.  The  colonel 
raised  his  flag,  and  upon  nearing  the  point  where 
he  stood,  the  boat  curved  beautifully  round,  and  in 
a  few  moments  was  lying  at  the  shore  waiting  for 
her  passenger.  The  colonel  seeing  the  young 
man  said,  "  Stranger,  did  n't  I  tell  you  so.  You 
see  they  are  afraid  of  me."  Colonel  Crockett  had 
become  so  notorious,  that  the  boats  were  all  anx- 
ious to  get  him  as  a  passenger.  He  was  an  inex- 
haustible fountain  of  fun  to  every  company  in 
which  he  happened  to  be  thrown. 

During  their  passage  up  the  river,  a  small  com- 
pany had  assembled  around  the  colonel  at  the 
bow  of  the  boat ;  and  while  there  the  machinery 
got  out  of  order,  and  the  boat  began  to  go  along 
with  the  current. 

Q 


182     SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

"  Heave  anchor,"  cries  the  captain. 

"  Hold,"  cries  Crockett.  "  Pay  me  for  the  wood 
you  would  burn,  and  I  will  get  out  and  tow  her 
up ;  and  for  double  price,  I  will  take  her  over  the 
falls." 

He  then  went  on  to  Washington,  where  he 
remained  until  congress  adjourned. 

Colonel  Crockett's  term  of  service  having  ex- 
pired, he  again  announced  himself  as  a  candidate 
for  congress.  The  character  which  he  had  ac- 
quired for  eccentricity,  organized  a  powerful  op- 
position against  him,  and  no  one  ever  entered  the 
field  against  greater  odds.  He  was  caricatured  in 
the  shape  of  almost  every  living  wild  animal,  and 
his  innocent  ebullitions  of  humour  were  gravely 
arraigned  against  him.  Every  species  of  vitu- 
peration was  showered  upon  him,  but  without 
effect.  He  was  too  deeply  seated  in  the  affections 
of  his  constituents.  Living  among  them  as  poor 
as  the  poorest,  in  a  hut  the  work  of  his  own  hands, 
his  interest  was  perfectly  identified  with  their's, 
He  was  their  companion  under  all  circumstances. 
He  hunted  with  them,  or  if  his  assistance  was 
wanted  he  was  ready  to  cut  logs,  and  help  a  friend 
to  put  up  his  cabin,  help  him  to  dig  a  well,  and  fix 
out  and  out,  and  then  he  was  ready  to  divide  his 
meat  and  bread  with  him.  No  friend  ever  asked 
a  favour  which  could  be  granted,  that  was  denied. 
To  confer  a  favour  always  gave  him  a  pleasure ; 
and  it  was  this  innate  love  of  conferring  benefits, 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.         183 

which  served  to  render  him  so  popular.  Nothing 
could  be  more  perfectly  original,  and  at  the  same 
time  more  humorous,  than  his  mode  of  getting  rid  of 
the  various  charges  which  were  preferred  against 
him.  And  indeed  his  manner  shows,  that  he  was 
possessed  of  more  good  humour  than  falls  to  the  lot 
of  most  of  us. 

As  a  husband,  no  one  can  be  more  kind  and 
indulgent  than  the  colonel.  As  a  father,  he  is  not 
only  affectionate,  but  even  a  companion  for  his 
children.  Yet  notwithstanding  these  circum- 
stances, the  malevolence  of  some  person  originated 
a  report  that  he  was  unkind  to  his  wife,  that  she 
had  most  of  the  labour  to  do,  and  that  he  would 
not  even  give  her  shoes.  The  report  was  entirely 
false,  and  gave  the  colonel  no  concern.  Indeed, 
the  vilest  slander,  when  entirely  destitute  of  truth, 
gives  us  much  less  concern  than  one  of  a  much 
milder  nature,  founded,  though  remotely,  on  fact. 
At  some  public  gathering  the  report  was  told  to 
the  colonel,  who,  with  the  utmost  good  humour, 
said  it  was  a  lie — that  his  wife  neither  wanted  for 
shoes,  nor  did  she  have  much  work  to  do,  for  that 
he  always  gave  her  his  old  boot  legs  to  make 
shoes  of,  and  cut  up  wood  enough  when  he  went 
to  Washington  to  last  her  till  he  got  back.  Pur- 
suing a  plan  of  this  sort,  so  entirely  new,  nothing 
disconcerts  him.  And  that  circumstance,  indeed, 
which  occurs  in  his  presence,  must  be  a  singular 
one  which  he  does  not  turn  to  his  advantage. 


184     SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

Believing  that  honest  poverty  is  no  crime,  he  is 
not  ashamed  of  his  circumstances,  and  frequently 
alludes  to  them  in  some,  amusing  manner. 

In  the  section  of  country  in  which  Colonel 
Crockett  lives,  there  are  very  few  slaves.  Almost 
every  man  has  to  labour  for  the  subsistence  of  his 
family.  Many  of  his  constituents  are  poor,  yet 
they  live  comfortably,  and  are  happy  and  cheer- 
ful ;  and  there  is  a  greater  interchange  of  neigh- 
bourly acts  among  the  citizens  of  his  district,  than 
I  have  seen  any  where  in  the  west.  To  an  agri- 
culturist who  wishes  to  get  rich,  the  Western 
District  holds  out  few  advantages,  on  account  of 
the  failure  which  has  marked  the  cotton  crop  for 
several  years  past.  It  is  too  far  north  for  cotton, 
but  is  an  excellent  grain  and  corn  country.  But 
to  one  who  has  a  family  dependent  upon  his  own 
exertions,  and  who  would  be  content  to  live  com- 
fortably, no  country  presents  more  advantages 
than  does  the  north-western  part  of  the  state  of 
Tennessee.  The  soil  is  light,  very  productive, 
and  easy  of  cultivation,  and  you  there  meet  with 
good  water,  which  is  rarely  to  be  found  in  the 
more  settled  parts  of  the  district.  The  country  is 
very  much  intersected  with  rivers,  which  flow  into 
the  Mississippi,  and  which,  when  they  are  cleared 
out  and  their  navigation  improved,  will  render 
land  in  that  section  of  country  very  valuable. 

Colonel  Crockett  was  acquainted  with  the  situa- 
tion of  his  constituents.     They  had  settled  upon 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.         185 

public  lands  lying  waste  and  uncultivated — they 
had  improved  them — they  had  rendered  them 
more  valuable  by  making  roads  and  building 
bridges,  and  rendering  that  section  of  country 
accessible  to  the  more  settled  parts  of  the  west — 
they  had  breasted  all  the  dangers  and  difficulties 
attendant  upon  settling  a  new  country — they  had 
laboured  under  so  many  disadvantages,  that  the 
colonel  thought  their  claims  upon  the  justice  and 
clemency  of  the  general  government  were  of  a 
high  order.  And  to  place  those  lands  within  the 
reach  of  every  citizen  of  his  district,  that  he  might 
provide  a  home  for  himself  and  family,  was  with 
him  an  overruling  passion.  His  attention  was 
directed  closely  to  this  subject  while  in  congress, 
and  it  was  so  managed  by  him,  that  if  in  his  zeal 
for  the  welfare  of  his  constituents,  he  had  not 
asked  too  much,  he  might  have  conferred  upon 
them  a  sensible  benefit,  and  have  given  them  their 
lands  at  a  much  less  price  than  perhaps  any  future 
representative  will  be  able  to  do.  If  in  this  matter 
however  he  erred,  his  error  must  be  attributed  to 
his  wishes  for  the  welfare  of  his  constituents,  and 
to  a  firm  belief  on  his  part  that  his  views  were 
correct,  and  that  at  some  future  day  he  would 
bring  his  favourite  scheme  to  bear. 

The  above  subject  generally  formed  a  part  of 

his  discourse  in  his  public  harangues,  or  his  war 

'talks,  as  electioneering  speeches  are  called  in  the 

west.     He  also  frequently  discusses  and  gives  his 

Q2 


186     SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OP 

views  upon  questions  affecting  the  general  interests 
of  our  country.  He  has  ever  been  a  strong  friend 
to  internal  improvements ;  and  as  will  be  seen,  it  was 
this  subject  which  afterward  "induced  him  to  with- 
draw his  support  from  General  Jackson.  As  a 
speaker,  Colonel  Crockett  is  irregular  and  imme- 
thodical  in  the  arrangement  of  his  discourse.  He 
seizes  upon  whatever  comes  first,  which  he  ex- 
presses in  bold  and  strong  terms.  His  language, 
though  rude  and  unpolished,  is  forcible ;  and  his 
discourse  is  pleasing  from  the  humour  and  singular 
comparisons  which  pervade  it,  and  from  the  nu- 
merous anecdotes  with  which  he  illustrates  his 
subjects.  His  electioneering  tour  was  arduous 
and  laborious,  yet  he  surmounted  all  difficulties ; 
and  the  result  of  the  election  showed  that  he  was 
returned  to  congress  by  a  majority  of  thirty-five 
hundred  votes.  Thus,  so  far  from  losing  ground, 
he  had  actually  gained  upon  the  affections  of  his 
constituents. 

The  election  being  over,  the  colonel  returned 
home  to  cultivate  his  little  field  of  corn  ;  and  when 
leisure  permitted,  again  sought  the  company  of 
his  dogs  and  rifle.  He  has  been  so  long  wedded 
to  hunting,  that  it  now  seems  a  part  of  his  busi- 
ness. An  old  hunter  never  forgets  the  sound  of 
the  horn,  but  even  when  too  old  to  join  in  the 
chase,  its  cheering  voice  gives  animation  to  his 
weather-beaten  frame,  and  carries  him  back  to 
youthful  scenes,  where,  in  the  rapture  of  the  mo- 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.         187 

merit,  he  forgets  that  he  is  no  longer  young.  None 
but  a  hunter  can  tell  how  the  heart  swells  at  the 
joyous  sound  of  the  horn,  or  how  it  dances  with 
delight  at  the  approach  of  an  animating  chase,  or 
how  elastic  the  step  and  how  buoyant  the  feelings 
when  one  rises  with  the  first  dawn  of  light,  and 
sallies  forth  to  hunt  the  deer,  or  rouse  from  his 
lair  the  more  hated  beasts  of  the  forest.  Bears, 
panthers,  wild  cats,  and  wolves,  create  much 
excitement  for  the  hunter.  The  first  are  hunted 
principally  as  a  matter  of  profit ;  the  latter,  be- 
cause they  are  very  destructive  to  hogs  and 
sheep,  and  also  because  they  have  frequently  been 
known  to  attack  individuals  when  alone  and  apart 
from  assistance.  An  attack  from  wild  animals 
east  of  the  Mississippi  river  is  now  somewhat  a 
rare  circumstance ;  but  you  can  scarcely  meet 
with  an  old  hunter  who  is  not  able  to  tell  you  of 
some  desperate  struggle,  or  hair  breadth  'scape. 

I  believe  there  is  no  animal  so  willing  to  attack 
the  human  species  as  our  common  panther.  When 
irritated  by  hunger  it  is  reckless  of  consequences, 
and  makes  its  attacks  under  all  circumstances. 
While  travelling  through  the  late  Choctaw  pur- 
chase, I  stopped  with  a  Mr.  Turnbull,  an  old 
settler,  who  amused  me  with  many  anecdotes  con- 
nected with  the  wildness  of  the  country ;  and 
among  others,  with  an  account  of  a  fight  he  had 
had  with  a  panther,  marks  of  which  he  now  carries, 
and  will  carry  to  his  grave. 


188     SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

He  had  built  a  cabin  at  some  distance  in  the 
woods,  and  had  but  lately  taken  possession  of  it, 
when  sitting  by  a  good  fire  on  a  damp,  rainy 
evening,  he  was  endeavouring  to  quiet  his  child, 
which  was  crying,  and  for  that  purpose  placed  it 
upon  his  shoulder,  and  walked  his  apartment. 
The  door  was  open,  and  he  turned  to  it  to  examine 
the  weather,  when  a  panther,  attracted  perhaps 
by  the  cries  of  the  child,  sprung  upon  him,  fasten- 
ing its  fore  claws  in  his  head,  and  its  hind  claws 
in  his  thighs.  Mr.  Turnbull,  who  is  full  six  feet 
high,  large  and  muscular,  dropped  his  child,  and 
being  without  arms,  seized  the  panther  by  the 
throat  with  one  hand,  and  with  the  other  hugged 
it  closer  to  him,  and  then  fell  on  the  floor  so  as  to 
keep  the  panther  at  bottom.  At  first  he  said  he 
could  feel  its  claws  working  their  way  into  his 
flesh,  but  the  strong  grasp  which  he  had  on  its 
throat  soon  caused  it  to  loosen  its  hold,  and  he 
then,  retaining  his  grasp,  dragged  it  to  the  fire, 
which  was  burning  brightly,  and  threw  it  in.  The 
panther  upon  being  so  roughly  treated,  endea- 
voured to  escape  out  of  the  chimney.  Whenever 
it  would  attempt  to  spring  out,  he  would  pull  it 
back  by  the  tail.  He  pursued  this  plan  until  it 
was  disabled  from  the  fire,  and  then  seizing  his 
axe,  knocked  it  in  the  head.  His  wife  was  pre- 
sent and  a  witness  of  the  scene,  but  so  much 
alarmed  as  to  be  unable  to  render  any  assistance. 
Exclusive  of  this,  he  was  once,  when  riding  with 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.        189 

a  friend,  pursued  some  distance  by  a  panther. 
They  prepared  for  battle,  and  it  followed  them 
for  some  distance  seeking  an  opportunity,  though 
it  did  not  make  an  attack.  Their  general  mode 
of  attack  is  to  couch  themselves  upon  a  tree,  and 
spring  off  upon  whatever  comes  near  them.  I 
heard  a  hunter  say,  that  he  had  once  seen  as  many 
as  five  panthers  in  view,  on  the  trees  adjoining  a 
large  salt  lick,  where  they  were  waiting  to  spring 
upon  deer. 

The  following  anecdote  was  narrated  to  me  as 
having  actually  occurred.  There  lived  in  the 
west  three  brothers,  John,  Dick,  and  Bill,  famed 
for  their  propensity  for  quarrel  and  love  of  fight- 
ing. They  invariably  attended  every  public  place, 
and  elicited  a  fight  if  there  was  a  possible  chance. 
And  what  was  very  remarkable,  the  oldest  brother 
present  would  always  claim  the  privilege  of  fight- 
ing, though  a  younger  one  might  have  brought 
about  the  quarrel.  So  steadfastly  was  this  privi- 
lege adhered  to,  that  Bill,  the  younger,  never 
could  have  a  fight,  but  would  often  cry  and  say, 
"  that  his  brothers  would  n't  let  him  have  a  fight, 
though  he  b'lieved  he  was  a  better  man  than  any 
of  'em."  He  was  so  anxious  to  try  his  prowess, 
and  begged  so  hard  for  a  chance,  that  it  was 
agreed  among  them,  that  the  next  fight  which 
could  be  raised  should  belong  exclusively  to  Bill. 
Not  long  after  this  determination,  John  and  Bill 
went  out  upon  a  hunting  excursion.  They  had 


190     SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

wandered  about  for  some  time  in  the  woods,  when 
stopping  to  rest,  they  discovered  a  panther  couched 
upon  a  limb,  and  in  the  act  of  springing  upon  them. 
Before  John,  who  had  the  rifle,  could  shoot  it,  it 
had  lit  upon  Bill,  who  drew  from  its  sheath  his 
hunting-knife,  and  with  his  hands  and  feet  com- 
menced a  desperate  fight.  The  panther  would  no 
sooner  light  upon  him,  than  its  hold  was  cut  loose, 
which  rendered  it  frantic,  and  for  a  long  time  they 
each  fought  with  all  the  spirit  of  desperation. 
During  this  scene,  John,  the  oldest  brother,  stood 
by,  leaning  carelessly  on  his  rifle,  apparently  an 
unconcerned  spectator  of  the  fight.  The  fight  was 
still  prolonged.  Bill's  clothes  were  stripped  from 
him,  and  he  with  the  panther  literally  besmeared 
with  blood.  Fortunately  Bill's  knife  found  its  way 
to  the  panther's  heart,  and  freed  him  from  his 
antagonist.  This  was  no  sooner  done,  than  naked, 
his  body  streaming  with  blood  from  the  nails  of 
the  panther,  he  ran  up  to  his  brother  John  to  take 
vengeance  for  his  not  having  assisted  him ;  who 
only  laughed,  and  told  him  of  the  promise  which 
he  had  exacted,  that  the  first  fight  which  could  be 
raised  should  belong  exclusively  to  him ;  saying 
at  the  same  time,  "  it  had  been  a  beautiful  fight — 
that  Bill  had  given  good  evidence  of  manhood, 
and  had  acquitted  himself  with  great  credit."  The 
compliment  was  pleasing  to  Bill.  He  went  to  a 
branch,*  washed  the  blood  from  his  body,  bor- 
*  In  the  south  and  west,  small  streams  are  called  Branches. 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.        191 

rowed  some  of  his  brother's  clothes,  and  ever  after- 
ward thanked  him  for  being  permitted  to  win  for 
himself  so  much  fame.  Bill  was  at  once  exalted 
above  his  brothers,  and  ever  afterward  retained 
his  reputation.  For  he  who  had  whipped  a  pan- 
ther at  fair  fight,  could  never  get  a  chance  of  losing 
his  hard-earned  fame  by  fighting  with  a  man. 

Wild  cats  also  have  frequently  been  known  to 
attack  persons.  The  following  story  was  told  to 
me  by  a  gentleman  cognizant  of  the  circumstances. 
A  person  who  had  removed  from  the  east  to  our 
western  forests,  had  selected  a  site  for  his  resi- 
dence, and  was  engaged  in  putting  up  the  neces- 
sary houses  for  a  settlement.  His  negroes  at 
night  were  encamped  at  his  door,  and  it  happened 
that  while  they  were  preparing  their  supper  a 
wild  cat  sprung  upon  an  old  negro  woman,  one  of 
the  group,  and  though  her  cries  speedily  brought 
assistance,  they  were  scarcely  able  to  preserve 
her  life.  It  was  several  times  beaten  off,  but 
strange  to  tell,  returned,  and  each  time  sought 
her  from  the  crowd  as  its  victim.  Wolves  abound 
in  large  numbers  throughout  the  west,  but  the  set- 
tlements have  become  so  thick,  that  they  rarely 
now  venture  to  attack  individuals.  It  is  some- 
what remarkable  that  though  you  may  hear  innu- 
merable wolves  at  night,  you  very  rarely  see 
them  during  the  day.  I  have  often  heard  old 
hunters  remark  this ;  and  I  suppose  it  is  owing  to 
the  circumstance  that  their  sense  of  smelling  is 


192    SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

very  acute,  which  enables  them  to  elude  their 
enemies.  Farther,  as  a  proof  of  their  sagacity, 
they  generally  travel  constantly  in  windy  weather, 
and  always  against  the  wind,  by  which  means 
they  are  able  to  detect  an  enemy  before  it 
approaches  them,  trusting  to  their  heels  should 
they  be  pursued.  It  is  idle  to  hunt  them  with 
dogs,  for  they  never  tire,  but  have  been  known  to 
catch  and  eat  a  dog  out  of  the  very  pack  which 
was  pursuing  them.  A  panther,  though  more 
ferocious,  will  flee  from  a  dog,  and  is  easily  treed. 
These  are  some  of  the  circumstances  which, 
blended  with  the  wild  appearance  of  the  country, 
create  so  much  interest  to  the  traveller,  and  really 
render  a  trip  to  the  unsettled  portions  of  the  west 
a  delightful  recreation  to  one  tired  of  a  city  life. 
But  exclusive  of  the  game  above  enumerated,  you 
find  occasionally  a  few  elk,  and  every  species  of 
game  common  to  our  country.  Partridges,  phea- 
sants, woodcocks,  and  turkeys,  abound  in  large 
numbers — for  a  genuine  son  of  the  backwoods 
rarely  condescends  to  molest  them.  Nor  must  I 
forget  the  many  species  of  ducks  which  infest  our 
western  waters  in  great  numbers,  and  easily  fall  a 
prey  to  the  hunter.  The  prairies,  in  some  parts 
of  the  west,  and  the  barrens,  in  other  parts,  form 
the  best  hunting  grounds ;  and  they  are  so  exten- 
sive and  open,  that  nothing  could  afford  a  fairer 
field  to  the  sportsman.  Having  been  raised  in 
one  of  the  oldest  states  in  the  union,  where  my 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.         193 

ambition  never  rose  higher  than  to  stop  the  wood- 
cock in  his  circling  flight,  or  bring  the  partridge 
tumbling  to  the  ground,  my  spirits  danced  with 
delight,  when  as  a  hunter  I  first  trod  our  western 
forests,  where  instead  of  meeting  with  some  lone 
bird  lamenting  the  loss  of  its  mate,  to  whom  the 
deadly  shot  of  the  sportsman  would  give  relief,  I 
roused  the  bounding  deer  from  its  covert,  or  drove 
before  me,  in  wide  extended  fields,  clouds  of  birds, 
from  morning  until  night.  My  fondness  for  shoot- 
ing small  game,  such  as  turkeys,  partridges  and 
woodcocks,  gave  the  old  hunters  much  amuse- 
ment ;  and  they  laughed  at  me  with  the  same 
pleasure  that  an  old  weather-beaten  tar  does  at  £t 
landsman  just  seeking  the  ocean  for  his  home. 
The  habits  of  the  wild  pigeon  have  long  been  a 
subject  of  much  curiosity.  The  great  numbers  in 
which  they  appear,  and  the  singular  propensity  that 
they  have  to  roost  together,  have  for  some  time 
been  a  source  of  speculation.  They  frequently 
fly  as  much  as  eighty  miles  to  feed,  and  return  to 
their  roost  the  same  evening.  This  was  proved 
by  shooting  them  at  their  roost  of  a  morning  when. 
their  craws  were  empty,  and  then  shooting  them 
again  in  the  evening  when  they  returned.  Their 
craws  were  then  found  filled  with  rice,  and  it  wa& 
computed  that  the  nearest  rice-field  could  not  be 
within  a  less  distance  than  eighty  miles.  I  have 
often  seen  pigeon  roosts  in  the  older  states,  but 
they  scarcely  give  an  idea  of  one  in  the  west.  I 


194  SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

liave  seen  a  cloud  of  those  birds  cover  the  horizon 
in  every  direction,  and  consume  an  hour  in  passing. 
And  near  a  roost,  from  an  hour  before  sunset  until 
Tiine  or  ten  o'clock  at  night,  there  is  one  continued 
roar,  resembling  that  of  a  distant  water-fall.     A 
roost  frequently  comprises  one  hundred  acres  of 
land  ;  and  strange,  though  literally  true,  as  can  be 
attested  by  thousands,  the  timber,  even  though  it 
l*e  of  the  largest  growth,  is  so  split  and  broken  by 
the  immense  numbers  which  roost  upon  it,  as  to  be 
rendered  entirely  useless.    There  are  few  persons 
liardy  enough  to  venture  in  a  roost  at  night.    The 
constant  breaking  of  the  trees  renders  it  extremely 
dangerous  ;  and  besides  there  is  no  necessity  for 
shooting  the  birds,  as  the  mere  breaking  of  the 
limbs  kills  many  more  than  are  taken  away.     A 
j%eon  roost  in  the  west  resembles  very  much  a 
section  of  country  over  which  has  passed  a  violent 
hurricane.    Wolves,  foxes,  etc.,  are  constant  atten- 
dants upon  a  pigeon  roost. 

(  It  is  as  a  hunter  that  I  like  most  to  dwell  upon 
the  character  of  Colonel  Crockett,  for  in  that 
capacity  he  is  really  great.  I  do  not  know  that  I 
ever  enjoyed  more  pleasure  than  I  did  during  my 
first  hunt  with  him.  The  character  he  had  ob- 
tained, the  great  quantities  of  game  he  had  killed, 
and  the  sagacity  of  his  dogs,  all  of  which  had  often 
in  my  presence  been  the  theme  of  conversation, 
created  a  restless  anxiety  on  my  part  at  once  to 
mingle  with  him  iu  the  chase,  and  be  a  witness 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.         195 

of  his  far-earned  skill.  So,  having  determined  on 
the  following  morning  to  take  an  elk  hunt,  we 
cleaned  our  guns,  prepared  for  the  chase,  and  with 
pleasant  conversation  whiled  away  the  early  part 
of  the  evening.  I  then  retired  to  bed,  feasting  on 
anticipation,  and  even  anxious  to  annihilate  time. 
At  last  the  heavy  night  passed  away  and  morning 
came,  and  with  it  came  hope,  and  happiness,  and 
buoyancy  of  spirit.  I  arose  and  went  out;  the 
colonel  was  already  up,  and  seizing  an  old  horn 
which  swung  from  the  logs  of  the  cabin,  he  sounded 
it  until  the  woods  seemed  alive,  while  echo  an- 
swered to  its  joyous  notes.  Then  the  dogs  which 
were  scattered  about  the  yard  rose  from  their 
couches,  yawned,  stretched  themselves,  and  lent 
their  deep  toned  voices  to  its  cheering  sound. 
•  The  morning  wras  not  more  beautiful  than  usual. 
The  sun  bounded  up  into  the  heavens,  and  tinged 
with  its  golden  beams  the  tops  of  the  forest ;  but 
this  it  had  often  done  before,  and  yet  I  thought 
nature  never  looked  so  cheerful,  so  lovely.  Happy 
myself,  I  saw  every  thing  only  through  the  medium 
of  my  own  feelings.  I  did  not  think  that  the  music 
which  had  so  many  charms  for  me  was  but  the 
death  note  of  preparation  for  the  execution  of 
some  noble  elk,  or  panting  stag.  While  my  heart 
thrilled  with  pleasure  at  the  scene  before  me,  I 
did  not  recollect  that  every  blast  which  floated 
off,  carried  with  it  to  quaking  hearts  the  idea  of  a 
long  and  weary  chase,  a  certain  yet  protracted 


196  SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

death.  However,  my  feelings  ran  but  a  short  time 
in  this  strain.  The  arrival  of  several  of  the  neigh- 
bours with  their  dogs,  who  had  been  invited  to  join 
us, — their  rifle-guns  and  accoutrements,  their  wild 
and  picturesque  dresses,  and  the  tumultuous  bark- 
ings of  the  dogs,  infused  into  us  only  animation, 
and  a  desire  for  the  chase.  So  having  obtained 
our  breakfast,  we  were  soon  on  foot,  moving  mer- 
rily forward  to  a  small  hurricane,  which  had  been 
agreed  upon  for  a  drive.  The  time  consumed  in 
arriving  there  we  while d  away  by  the  narration 
of  anecdotes  and  sage  prophecies,  with  regard  to 
our  probable  success. 

Having  also  settled  among  ourselves  the  way 
that  the  elk,  if  roused,  would  run,  I  selected  for 
myself  a  stand,  with  a  certain  expectation  of  a 
shot.  Colonel  Crockett  selected  a  small  opening 
within  sight  of  me,  and  the  remainder  of  the 
hunters  stationed  themselves  at  different  points  of 
the  hurricane.  We  were  then  ready.  The  sound 
of  the  horn,  and  the  cheering  hark  of  the  driver, 
told  us  that  he  had  already  entered  the  hurricane. 
For  some  time  all  was  quiet,  and  nothing  broke 
in  upon  the  stillness  of  the  scene,  save  the  "  look 
about,9  "  hark  about  dogs"  from  the  lips  of  the 
driver.  Time  never  seemed  to  me  to  move  so 
heavily ;  and  weary,  I  seated  myself,  where  in 
fancy  I  listened  to  the  cry  of  the  dogs,  and  killed 
many  a  noble  elk,  as  he  bounded  by  me.  But  this 
delusion  lasted  not  long  before  I  was  waked  up  by 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.         197 

the  music  of  a  living  chase.  At  first  the  dogs 
opened  in  long  yells,  at  irregular  intervals,  and 
slowly  they  appeared  to  move  through  the  tangled 
thicket, — then  burst  forth  one  long,  loud  roar,  as 
they  dashed  off,  and  swept  through  the  woods  like 
the  blast  of  a  tornado.  "  He's  up,  he's  up,"  witii 
a  loud  whoop,  was  shouted  from  the  lips  of  the 
driver,  and  the  woods  re-echoed  with  the  roar  of 
the  dogs.  Trembling  with  anxiety  I  jumped  up 
and  cocked  my  gun,  expecting  every  moment  to 
see  the  elk.  I  turned  towards  Colonel  Crockett. 
He  was  lounging  idly  against  an  old  beech  tree, 
his  riile  leaning  against  it,  and  he  apparently  an 
unconcerned  spectator  of  the  scene. 

For  some  moments  it  was  difficult  to  tell  which 
way  the  dogs  were  running, — then  their  notes 
became  fainter,  and  my  heart  grew  sick  while  I 
thought  they  were  leaving  me.  They  stretched 
on  until  they  were  almost  lost  to  the  ear.  They 
circled,  they  tacked,  they  were  at  fault.  I  heard 
them  coming,  and  my  heart  grew  glad  as  their 
music  increased.  Another  moment, — with  wide- 
stretched  eyes  I  looked  in  every  direction, — and 
all  was  still,  though  the  dogs  were  circling  near 
me.  Colonel  Crockett,  calm  and  unmoved,  now 
held  his  rifle — the  bushes  crack,  his  leaps  are 
heard — 'tis  the  elk  that's  coming.  The  colonel 
shrunk  behind  a  tree,  and  raised  his  rifle.  The 
game  is  in  view — not  an  elk,  but  a  lovely  stag  is 
bounding  by  us.  Colonel  Crockett  bleated — the 

R2 


198     SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

stag  was  deceived,  it  stopped,  and  with  panting 
sides  and  lofty  head,  looked  wildly  round.  I  raised 
my  rifle ;  the  colonel's  rung  through  the  forest, 
and  with  it  the  cry  of  "here,  here,  here,  dogs;"  he 
running  in  a  direction  counter  to  that  in  which  the 
deer  was  standing.  In  an  instant  the  deer  bounded 
away  like  lightning,  and  "  a  panther,  a  panther !" 
was  shouted  from  the  lips  of  Colonel  Crockett.  I 
ran  up  to  him,  and  learned  that  while  he  was  in 
the  act  of  shooting  the  deer,  a  panther,  roused 
from  his  lair  by  the  cry  of  the  dogs,  had  passed 
by,  at  which  he  thought  he  had  discharged  his 
rifle  with  effect.  The  horn  was  soon  sounded, 
the  dogs  after  much  trouble  were  called  off*  from 
the  deer,  the  huntsmen  were  assembled,  the  cause 
was  explained,  and  we  then  proceeded  to  examine 
the  spot  where  Colonel  Crockett  said  he  had  shot. 
But  a  few  moments  sufficed  to  convince  us  that  the 
panther  was  wounded :  the  deer  wras  gladly  for- 
gotten, and  with  joyous  shouts  we  placed  the  dogs 
upon  the  panther's  trail,  and  followed  on.  Nothing 
could  be  more  animating  than  their  eager  cry. 
Long  and  weary  was  the  chase,  which  was  sure 
to  lead  us  wherever  most  difficulties  opposed  our 
progress.  The  joyous  shouts  of  the  huntsmen  so 
animated  the  dogs,  that  they  gave  the  panther  but 
little  rest.  For  a  long  time  he  eluded  their  pur- 
suit ;  but  they  caught  him  upon  the  brink  of  a 
little  branch,  and  never  did  I  hear  such  a  fight. 
The  wild  screams  of  the  panther,  and  the  loud 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT,        199 

••v" 

veiling  of  the  wounded  dogs  resounded  through 
the  forest.  I  scrambled  on  through  briers,  bushes, 
etc.,  and  arrived  just  in  time  to  see  the  panther 
with  one  desperate  effort  tear  himself  from  the 
dogs  and  slip  off.  With  unabated  vigour  tins 
followed  on,  and  for  some  time  held  a  running 
fight,  when  the  panther,  to  relieve  himself,  took 
a  tree.  The  peculiar  notes  of  the  dogs  told  of 
this  joyous  event,  and  fierce  was  the  struggle  who 
should  reach  the  soonest.  Who  was  the  fortu- 
nate person  T  hnvo  now  forgotten,  though  I  well 
recollect  that  I  was  not.  A  short  time,  however, 
brought  us  together,  and  merry  were  we  at  the 
panther's  expense.  He  was  crouched  in  the 
crotch  of  a  tree,  looking  composedly  down  upon 
the  dogs,  his  eyes  gleaming  with  rage.  Fearing 
he  might  jump  down  and  give  us  more  trouble, 
we  all  formed  a  line,  and  at  a  given  signal,  fired 
our  balls  into  the  panther's  body.  He  fell  withoot 
a  struggle,  and  instantly  every  dog  was  upon  him, 
worrying  him  as  if  he  was  alive.  I  have  often 
known  old  hunters,  when  their  dogs  were  loth  to 
take  hold,  shoot  their  guns  in  the  air,  and  it  always 
produces  the  desired  effect — they  immediately 
seize.  The  panther  measured,  from  tip  to  tip,  a 
little  more  than  nine  feet.  The  day  was  well  nigh 
spent,  and  dragging  him  along  as  a  trophy  of  over 
victory,  we  returned  to  the  house,  where,  over  a  bot- 
tle of  whiskey  and  some  good  water,  we  remained 
and  listened  with  attention  until  each  hunter  gave, 
in  his  own  way,  his  ideas  of  the  day's  hunt. 


200    SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 


CHAPTER  XV. 

THE  chief  circumstance  which  characterized 
Colonel  Crockett's  second  term  in  congress  is  the 
change  which  he  is  supposed  to  have  undergone 
in  his  sentiments  towards  the  present  executive. 
In  alluding  to  this  subject,  he  stated  that  he  had 
€ver  been  a  friend  to  internal  improvements  ;  that 
he  believed  they  were  -consistent  with  the  spirit  of 
the  constitution;  that  the  situation  of  the  west 
particularly  required  them  ;  and  that  it  was  good 
policy,  in  the  present  flourishing  state  of  our  finan- 
cial department,  to  carry  on  a  scheme  of  gradual 
improvement.  He  alluded  particularly  to  the 
situation  of  the  \vest,  the  poverty  of  its  inhabitants, 
and  its  sparse  population  ;  to  their  having  to  con- 
tend with  the  difficulties  incident  to  a  new  country 
— clearing  lands,  opening  roads,  and  building 
bridges — and  to  their  inability,  under  these,  cir- 
cumstances, of  carrying  on  any  general  state  of 
improvement.  He  also  adverted  to  the  bounteous 
gifts  of  nature — a  soil  rich  and  productive,  inter- 
sected with  innumerable  rivers ;  and  stated  the 
.numerous  advantages  which  would  flow  from  these 
sources,  should  they,  by  the  assistance  of  the  gene- 
ral government,  be  rendered  safe  and  navigable. 
He  adverted  to  public  roads,  and  the  facilities 
which  they  would  afford  to  the  inhabitants  of  the 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.        201 

west;  likewise  to  the  good  which  wrould  result 
from  their  cementing  together  the  various  western 
interests.  He  alluded  to  the  large  quantity  of 
lands  owned  by  the  general  government  in  the 
western  states — to  the  immense  revenue  derived 
from  that  source,  and  thence  inferred,  as  a  matter 
of  right,  the  propriety  of  spending  a  large  portion 
of  that  revenue  in  the  internal  improvement  of  the 
same  section  of  country. 

In  supporting  General  Jackson,  hr  had  always 
so  under  a  firm  belief  that  he  was  a  friend  to 
internal  improvements,  and  when  he  vetoed  the 
Maysvillc  Road  Bill,  he  thought  he  swerved  from 
the  political  faith  he  had  formerly  professed  ;  "and 
I  felt  bound,"  said  he,  "  in  duty  to  myself,  to  differ 
with  him  in  opinion."  He  said  he  never  had,  and 
never  would,  swear  allegiance  to  any  man ;  that 
to  General  Jackson  he  was  not  more  opposed  than 
to  any  other  person  ;  that  he  could  not  bind  himself 
to  do  whatever  General  Jackson  thought  right, 
but  would  support  his  views  when  he  thought 
them  correct,  when  he  was  instructed  to  do  so,  or 
when  he  knew  that  it  was  the  wish  of  his  con- 
stituents ;  but,  under  other  circumstances,  his 
judgment  must  ever  be  his  guide.  ^ 

Colonel  Crockett's  conduct  on  this  occasion  was 
certainly  the  effect  of  principle,  and  his  bitterest 
enemies  cannot  witli  any  shadow  of  justice  im- 
peach it.  Standing  high  in  the  affections  of  his 
constituents,  popular  above  any  other  man  in  his 


202  SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

district,  he  might  have  retained  his  seat  in  con- 
gress as  long  as  he  wished  it,  without  a  chance  of 
being  beaten  ;  and  to  do  this  he  only  had  to  follow 
in  the  wake  of  public  opinion.  But  being  a  friend 
to  internal  improvements,  believing  that  the  situa- 
tion of  his  country  required  them,  he  could  not  lend 
his  support  to  an  administration  going  directly 
counter  to  his  own  views.  By  blindly  following 
it,  he  would  certainly  retain  his  seat  in  congress. 
By  opposing,  he  might  lose  it.  But  that  freedom 
and  independence  which  have  hitherto  stamped 
his  character,  induced  him  to  obey  the  dictates  of 
his  own  judgment,  and  trust  for  re-election  to  the 
justice  of  his  constituents.  Surely  he  could  not 
have  given  a  better  example  of  correct  principle 
and  honest  intentions.  By  pursuing  the  dictates 
of  his  own  judgment,  there  was  every  thing  to 
lose,  and  nothing  to  gain — and  yet  he  obeyed 
them.  The  Jackson  party  was  then,  as  it  now  is, 
dominant  throughout  the  United  States.  The 
Clay  party  did  not  expect  to  succeed  in  their 
election.  And  if  it  did,  what  was  the  reward 
held  oijt  to  Colonel  Crockett  for  his  support? 
There  was  none.  His  want  of  early  education 
would  have  disqualified  him  for  any  office  which 
he  would  have  accepted.  And  yet,  so  fashionable 
is  the  slang  of  party  spirit,  that  he  is  said  by  the 
Jackson  editors  to  have  been  bought  up.  Previous 
to  his  withdrawing  his  support  from  General  Jack- 
son, he  was  the  first  in  the  house  of  congress  to 


T   COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT,        203 

denounce  the  political  course  of  Martin  Van 
Buren,  then  Secretary  of  State,  which  he  did  in 
strong  and  harsh  terms,  some  of  which  have  lasted 
until  the  present  time,  and  have  been  adopted  by 
the  opposition  editors  for  their  poignancy  and,  as 
they  think,  aptitude,  without  being  aware  that  they 
are  indebted  for  them  to  a  hunter  of  the  west. 

It  would  be  difficult  for  any  writer  to  give  such 
tin  account  of  the  west,  its  manners,  customs,  etc.T 
as  would  be  admitted  on  all  hands  to  be  correct. 
The  beauty  of  its  scenery  and  the  fertility  of  its 
soil  require  much  commendation ;  but  then  there 
are  so  many  difficulties   and  inconveniences  at- 
tendant upon  the  settling  of  a  new  country,  that 
a  person  is  apt  to  be  influenced  by  the  circum- 
stances under  which  he  is  situated.     So  far  is  this 
true,  that  even  in  the  west  you  meet  with  many 
persons  who  differ  in  opinion  with  regard  to  the 
advantages  which  it  presents.     In  the  west  you 
meet  with  every  shade  of  character  which  yon 
can  possibly  conceive,  from  the  pious  and  devout 
Christian,  to  him  who  disregards  his  Got?,  aiwif 
sets  at  defiance  all  the  laws  of  man.     You  afso 
meet  with  representatives   from  every  civilized 
country  in  the  world — and  having  all  gone  there 
for  the  purpose  of  bettering  their  fortunes,  they 
are  generally  shrewd,  intelligent,  and  enterprising; 
much  more  so  than  the  mass  of  people  in  the  older 
country — for  it  requires  some  energy  of  character 
in  a  man,  to  sever  the  ties  of  affection  which  bind 


204     SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

him  lo  his  native  place,  and  seek  a  home  in  a 
strange  land.  Thrown  together  under  circum- 
stances of  this  nature,,  unacquainted  with  each 
other's  former  character,  they  are,  in  general,  less 
confiding  than  they  are  in  a  country  where  society 
is  more  settled.  Yet  there  is  more  civility  than 
you  would  expect  to  meet  with,  and  much  appa- 
rent frankness  of  manner.  The  citizens,  as  yet, 
have  paid  no  attention  to  the  luxuries,  and  very 
little  to  the  comforts  of  life  ;  but  nature  here  has 
•been  so  bountiful  in  her  gifts,  that  the  time  is  not 
far  distant  when  the  Mississippi  valley  will,  in 
point  of  wealth,  be  the  first  agricultural  country 
in  the  world,  filled  with  a  population  brave,  enter- 
prising, and  industrious. 

Although  the  west  is  settled  by  representatives 
From  every  country,  it  is  very  largely  indebted 
for  its  inhabitants  to  Virginia,  Georgia,  and  the  two 
Carolinas.  One,  to  witness  the  immense  emigra- 
tion from  those  states  to  the  west,  would  assign  it 
at  once  as  the  cause  of  their  increasing  so  slowrly 
in  population.  Emigrants  from  these  states,  as 
well  as  from  Kentucky,  form'ty  far  the  -larger 
proportion  of  the  population  of  the  west.  Whether 
this  disposition  to  move  is  peculiar  to  that  people, 
or  whether  it  arises  from  the  existence  of  some 
temporary  cause,  I  know  not.  The  south  would 
perhaps  attribute  it  to  the  injurious  effects  of 
the  tariff  system,  saying,  to  bear  its  burdens  we 
must  have  rich  lands.  The  north  would  assign 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.        205 

as  its  cause  the  evils  of  slavery.  But  if  this  latter 
be  true,  it  is  somewhat  remarkable  that  southern- 
ers in  moving  should,  with  but  few  exceptions, 
always  settle  in  a  slave  state,  and  this  though  they 
may  own  no  slaves  of  themselves.  I  should  sup- 
pose it  was  owing  to  the  fact,  that  in  the  south 
there  are  but  few  manufactories,  and  consequently 
the  great  mass  of  the  people  are  raised  upon 
plantations  in  the  cultivation  of  the  soil ;  and  when 
entering  upon  life  for  themselves,  they  generally 
pursue  the  same  avocation.  The  western  soil 
being  productive,  and  had  at  a  less  price  than 
lands  of  equal  value  in  their  native  states,  holds 
out  inducements  to  emigrate.  This  disposition  to 
move  must  be  owing  in  a  great  measure  to  the 
habits  of  the  people,  from  the  circumstance  that  it 
is  a  very  rare  occurrence  to  see  in  the  west  a 
northern  man  who  is  a  planter  or  farmer. 
Northern  emigrants  who  come  here — and  they 
form  but  a  small  proportion  of  the  population — 
generally  settle  in  the  towns  or  little  villages, 
where  their  tact  for  trade  enables  them  to  get 
along  with  more  advantage  to  themselves  than 
they  could  derive  from  agriculture.  Possessed  of 
this  peculiar  talent,  they  live  easily,  and  generally 
accumulate  fortunes.  The  Yankees,  as  all  men 
north  'of  the  Potomac  are  here  termed,  are  gene- 
rally well  educated,  and  have  become  as  cele- 
brated in  the  west  for  shrewdness  and  cunning, 
as  they  are  in  the  south.  Their  shrewdness  has 


206    SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

given  rise  to  many  anecdotes,  and,  among  others,  I 
heard  from  Colonel  Crockett  the  following : 

"  Two   foreigners,  who  wrere   fresh  from  our 
mother  country,  in  travelling  through  the  west  on 
horseback,  happened  to  pass  an  evening  at  a  house 
situated  on  the  banks   of  the   Mississippi  river, 
where  they  met  with  a  Yankee  pedler,  who  had 
just  disposed  of  his  stock  of  goods,  and  was  ready 
to  go  to  any  part  of  the  world  where  interest 
might   call   him.      By  shrewd  guesses,   he  soon 
found  out  every  thing  in  relation  to  the  circum- 
stances, residence,  and  business  of  his  companions, 
and  then  kindly  gave  a  history  of  himself.     He  no 
sooner  announced  himself  as  a  Yankee,  than  the 
foreigners,  who  had  often  heard  of  the  shrewdness 
of  their  character,  were  all  anxiety  that  he  should 
play  them  a  Yankee  trick.    This  he  modestly  de- 
clined.    They  insisted ;  and  offered  to  give  him 
five  dollars  for  a  good  Yankee  trick.    The  money 
was  taken,  with  a  promise  either  to  refund  it,  or 
play  a  good  trick — and  morning  was  selected  as 
the  time  for  the  exhibition  of  the  Yankee's  skill. 
Pleased  with  each  other,  they  all  retired  to  bed  in 
the  same  apartment ;  and  when  morning  came, 
the  Yankee  rose  with  the  first  light,  gently  dressed 
himself  in  the  clothes  of  one  of  the  foreigners,  took 
a  pair  of  saddlebags  to  which  he  had  no  title,  and 
quietly  leaving  the  house,  was  observed  to  go  on 
board  of  a  flat  boat  bound  for  New-Orleans.    The 
foreigners  soon  after  awoke,  and  upon  getting  up 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.        207 

to  dress,  beheld  the  sad  reality  of  a  Yankee  trick. 
Having  much  money  in  their  saddlebags,  they 
found  out  which  way  the  Yankee  had  gone ;  and 
obtaining  a  small  skiff,  set  out  after  him.  The 
skiff  was  light ;  and,  moving  rapidly,  an  hour  or 
two  brought  it  along  side  of  the  flat  boat,  where 
sat  the  Yankee  perfectly  composed,  in  quiet  pos- 
session of  their  clothes  and  saddlebags.  With 
much  apparent  pleasure  he  arose,  inquired  after 
their  healths,  and  asked  how  they  were  pleased 
with  the  trick.  The  idea  that  they  then  had  of 
the  Yankee,  I  leave  to  the  imagination  of  my 
reader.  However,  he  soon  delivered  their  sad- 
dlebags, which  had  not  been  opened,  and  ex- 
changed clothes.  The  foreigners  having  deposited 
their  saddlebags  in  the  skiff,  very  much  dissatis- 
fied, were  about  to  leave,  when  the  Yankee 
insisted  upon  their  taking  a  parting  glass  together ; 
and,  while  drinking,  he  stepped  back,  jumped  in 
the  skiff  and  pushed  off.  Amid  the  execrations 
of  the  crew  he  plied  his  paddle,  and  the  skiff 
darted  away  from  the  flat  boat.  Going  up  stream, 
pursuit  with  the  flat  boat  was  idle,  and  he  was 
observed  to  land  on  the  Arkansas  shore,  where,  I 
have  no  doubt,  before  this  he  has  doubled  the 
money  thus  obtained." 

The  frontier  settlers  in  the  west  are  either  from 
Kentucky  or  the  southern  states,  and  living  as 
they  do,  almost  excluded  from  society,  they  have 
established  for  themselves  a  character  and  language 


208  SKETCHES  AND  ECCENTRICITIES  OF 

peculiar  to  them  as  a  people.  Wedded  to  hunting, 
and  careless  of  society,  they  manage  always  to 
live  on  the  extreme  frontier  of  a  settlement,  by 
selling  out  the  clearing  which  they  have  made, 
and  plunging  again  into  the  forest,  whenever  the 
tide  of  population  approaches  too  near  to  them. 
Many  accumulate  a  competency  from  this  habit 
of  moving,  which  often  becomes  so  confirmed  as 
to  render  them  unhappy,  should  they  be  constrained 
to  remain  in  one  place  more  than  a  year  or  two. 

Those  persons  who  navigate  our  western  waters 
in  flat  boats,  have  many  peculiarities  in  their  habits 
and  language.  The  great  exposure  to  which  they 
are  subject,  the  great  labour  they  frequently  per- 
form, and  their  propensity  for  fun  and  frolic,  have 
rendered  them  remarkable  as  a  class.  The  intro- 
duction of  steam  boats  so  extensively  on  our 
western  waters,  has  served  to  destroy,  in  a  great 
measure,  the  use  of  flat  boats,  and  has  driven  to 
other  occupations  many  of  the  persons  thus  en- 
gaged ;  but  a  fine  sketch  of  this  class  of  persons, 
as  they  have  existed,  may  be  found  in  the  charac- 
ter of  Mike  Fink,  by  a  gentleman  of  Cincinnati. 

Colonel  Crockett  having  served  out  his  second 
term  in  congress,  was  again  a  candidate  for  re- 
election, and  though  every  exertion  was  used  by 
him,  he  failed  of  success.  The  country  was 
flooded  with  handbills,  pamphlets,  etc.  against 
him ;  and  it  was  about  this  time  that  a  series  of 
numbers,  entitled  "  The  Book  of  Chronicles,"  made 


COLONEL  DAVID  CROCKETT.        209 

their  appearance.  Many  of  his  constituents  had 
served  under  General  Jackson  throughout  the  last 
war.  Their  homes,  their  wives,  and  children,  had 
been  defended  by  him  from  the  attacks  of  the 
Indians.  These  circumstances  were  called  up  by 
his  opponents,  and  reiterated  daily  to  his  constitu- 
ents. It  was  a  powerful  lever,  and  one  that  turned 
the  fate  of  the  election.  But  the  contest  was  warm 
and  doubtful,  and  it  required  all  the  exertions  of 
the  opposing  party  to  gain  it,  under  those  circum- 
stances— a  strong  proof  of  the  personal  popularity 
of  Colonel  Crockett. 

Under  the  last  census  his  district  has  been  ma- 
terially changed.  Several  counties  have  been 
thrown  out,  and  among  them  some  that  were  most 
violent  in  their  opposition  to  him.  He  is  still  a 
candidate  for  the  ensuing  election,  with  flattering 
hopes  of  success. 


NOTE  BY  THE  PUBLISHERS. 

Since  the  earlier  portions  of  this  work  were  placed 
in  the  hands  of  the  printers,  the  election  has  taken 
place,  and  the  result  has  been  the  success  of  the  gallant 
volonel  over  his  opponent,  Mr.  Fitzgerald.  This  triumph 
was  thus  characteristically  announced  by  him  in  a  letter 
to  a  friend,  written  immediately  after  the  canvass. 
Dear  Sir : 

Went  through — tight  squeezing— beat  Fitz.  170 
Yours,        D.  C. 


THE    FAMILY    LIBRARY. 


IN  presenting  to  the  American  public  a  list  of  the  Works  com- 
posing the  Family  Library,  the  Duolishers  avail  themselves  of  the 
opportunity  afforded  them  to  offer  their  thanks  for  the  very  liberal 
encouragement  they  have  enjoyed,  and  still  continue  to  receive,  and 
for  the  numerous  expressions  of  approbation  that  have  been  be- 
stowed upon  their  undertaking. 

The  general  estimation  in  which  the  work  is  held  is  proved  by  the 
great  number  of  copies  that  have  been  sold,  and  by  me  constantly 
increasing  demand,  which  in  the  case  of  many  of  me  volumes  has 
been  so  ^reat  as  to  call  for  several  successive  editions. 

No  pains  and  no  expense  have  been  spared  in  procuring  and  select- 
ing works  of  the  highest  character,  both  of -foreign  and  native 
writers, — and  the  list  of  contributors  includes,  among  other  distin- 
guished names,  those  of 
Professors  H.  H.  Milman,  H.  G.  Bell,  Esq., 

'         Leslie,  G.  P.  R.  James,  Esq., 

1         Jameson,  Horace  Smith,  Esq., 

Wilson,  B.  B.  Thatcher,  Esq., 

1         G.  Bush,  Sharon  Turner,  F.S.A., 

*         Euler,  and  Mrs.  Jameson, 

"        Griscom,  J.  A.  St.  Jolin,  Esq., 

Lord  Dover,  John  Abercrombie,  M.D., 

Sir  Walter  Scott,  P.  F.  Tytler,  Esq., 

Sir  David  Brewster,  Robert  Mudie,  Esq., 

John  Gait,  Esq.,  John  Barrow,  Esq., 

J.  G.  Lockhart,  LL.D.,  Rev.  J.  Williams,  A.M., 

Robert  Southey,  LL.D.,  "    G.  R.  Gleig, 

J.  S.  Memes,  LL.D.,  "    George  Croly, 

Hugh  Murray,  Esq.,  "    M.  Russell,  LL.D., 

Allan  Cunningham,  Esq.,  "    E.  Smedley, 

With  the  assistance  and  co-operation  of  persons  of  such  eminent 
talents  and  high  reputation,  a  series  of  works  has  been  commenced 
and  is  still  in  progress,  embracing  almost  every  department  of  science 
find  literature,  and  combining  with  great  excellence  of  execution  the 
advantages  of  exceedingly  low  price,  convenience  of  form,  and 
beauty  of  illustration,  while  the  trifling  cost  has  placed  the  several 
works  within  the  reach  of  all  classes  of  readers,  the  interesting 
nature  of  the  subjects,  and  the  pleasing  manner  in  which  they  are 
treated,  render  them  well  suited  for  the  perusal  of  young  persons,  and 
valuable  auxiliaries  to  parents  and  teachers  in  the  important  offices 
of  guiding  and  cultivating  the  youthful  mind  ;  and  the  care  that  has 
been  taken  to  exclude  every  thing  that  could  in  the  slightest  degree 
have  a  prejudicial  influence  in  a  moral  or  religious  point  of  view, 
entitles  the  series  to  the  entire  confidence  of  the  most  scrupulous. 

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FAMILY   LIBRARY. 


complete  in  itself,  and  may  be  purchased  separately  from  the  others, 
it  will  furnish  a  valuable  variety  of  literary  presents,  of  school-books. 
and  of  volumes  for  family  reading,  adapted  to  the  means  and  tastes 
of  all  classes  of  readers. 

The  publication  of  the  Family  Library  is  still  in  progress,  and  will 
be  continued  by  the  addition  of  every  appropriate  work  that  is  pro- 
duced either  in  England  or  America,  so  long-  as  the  publishers  con- 
tinue to  receive  the  same  encouragement  which  has  hitherto  attended 
their  enterprise.  At  present  tlie  scries  embraces  the  following ; — 


Nos.  1,  2,  3.  Milman's  History  of 

the  Jews.    With  Plates. 

4,  5.  Loclihart's  Life  of  Napoleon 

Bonaparte.    With  Plates. 

6.  Southey's  Life  cf  Nelson. 

7.  Williams'a  Life  of  Alexander 

the  Great.    With  Plates. 

8.  Natural  History  of  Insects. 

9.  Gait's  Life  of  Lord  Byron. 

10.  Bush's  Life  of  Mohammed. 

11.  Scott's  Ltiltrs  on DemottoZogy 

and  Witchcraft.     Plate. 

12.  13.    Gieig's  History  of  the  Bi- 

ble.   With  Maps. 

14.  Discovery  and  Adventure  in  the 

Polar  Seas,  <$e.  By  Profes- 
sor Leslie,  Piofessor  Jame- 
son, and  Hugh  Murray,  Esq. 

15.  Croly's   Life  of    George    the 

Fvurtk.  With  a  Portrait- 

16.  Discovery  and    Adventure    in 

Africa.  By  Prof.  Jameson, 
James  Wilson,  Esq.,  and 
Hugh  Murray,  Esq/  With 
a  Map  and  Engravings. 

17.  18,  19.   Cunningham's    Lives 

of  Eminent  Painters  find 
Sculptors.  With  Portraits. 

20.  James's  History  of  Chivalry 

and  the  Crusadts.     Plate. 

21,  22.   Beii's  Life  of  Mary  Queen 

of  Scots.    Portrait. 

23.  Russell's  Ancient  and  Modem 

Egyrt.    With  Plates. 

24.  Fletcher's  History  of  Poland. 

With  a  Plate. 

25.  Smith's  Festival*,  Games,  and 

Amusements.     With  Plates. 

26.  Brewster's  Life  cf  Sir  Isaac 

Newton.     With  Plates. 

27.  Russell's  rfafnrt,  ofPftestir, 

or  the  Hoitj  Land.     Plates. 

28.  Meme.s'  Memoirs  of  the  E; 

press  Josephine.    Plates. 


29.    The  Court  end   Camp  of  Bo- 

n-jparte.     With  Plates. 
10.    Lives    of    Early    Navigators, 

With  Portraits. 
3.1.  A  Jfactiftbm    of    Pitcairrfs 

Island,  <kc.    Engravings. 
Turner's   Sacred   History  cf 

the  World. 
S3,  31.   Mrs.  Jameson's  Memoirs 

cf   Celebrated    Female   Savs- 

rclgns. 
35,  36.   Landers'    Africa.     With 

Engravings  and  Maps. 

37.  Abcrcrombie  on  the  Intellect- 

ual Powers,  cf-e. 

38,  39,  40.    St.   John's    Lives    of 

Celebrated  Travellers. 
41,  42.  Lord  Dover's  Life  of  Fre- 
deric II.  Kin*  of   Prussia. 
With  a  Portrait. 
44.    Sketches    from     Venetian. 

History.    With  Plates. 
46.   Thatcher's   Indian  Biog- 
raphy.   With  Plates. 
47,  48,  -19.    History  cf  India. 

50.  Brewster's  Letters  on  Natural 

Music.    Engravings. 

51,  52.   Taylor's  History  of   Ire- 

land.   With  Engravings. 

53.  Discoveries  on  the  Northern 
Coasts  of  America. 

51.  HumboMt's  Travels.    Plates. 

55,  56.  Euier's  Letters  on  Natural 
Phihsf)p?:y.  Engravings. 

57.  Mudie's  Guide  to  the  Observa- 
tion ofNutw.  Engravings. 

53.  Abercrombie,  on  the  Philoso- 
phy of  tfie  Moral  Feeling. 

59.  James's  History  of  Charle- 
niagne.  With  a  Portrait. 

CO.  Russell's  History  -of  Nubia 
and  Abyssinia. 

61,  62.  Russell's  Life  of  O'/V-T 
Crotnuteli.  With  a  Portrait. 


Recommendations  of  the  Family  Library. 

Tut  following  opinion*,  selected  from  highly  respectable  Journals?,  will 
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from  sources  equally  respectable,  niifcht  be  presented  if  deeu.< 

"The  Faini'v  Library.—  A.  very  excellent,  and  always  entertai. 
eell&ay."—  Editiburgk  JUtf&nr,  -V«>.  103. 

"  Tlie  Fam-'-j  Library.—  \\'e  think  this  series  of  book?  rnJitlfd  to  t*.o 
extensive  patronu^  rt-ccm-d  from  the  public,  'ii.c  bul-ji^i* 

•elected  are,  generally,  both  useful  and  .  M-rn^-lveK  and  are 

treated  in  a  popular  uiid  agreeable  manner  :  the  bi>ie  is  clear,  t;;»y.  and 
flowing,  adapted  to  the  tastn  of  genera'  •-  iicm  the  bool-.s  ara 

designed,    The  v.iiter.s  are  liiostu  lucsi  of  Uigh  rauU  ui  the  liu-rury  v 
and  appeer  to  possess  the  bappy  talent  of  blending  instruction  with 
:»ient  .....  \Vc  hesitate  not  to  commend  it  to  the  public  as  a  valuable 
scries  of  works,  and  worthy  a  place  in  every  gentleman's  library."—  Maga- 
zine of  Useful  Giui  EnLrtuinmg  Knowledge. 

''  \Ve  take  the  opportunity  ajiain  to  reronnnend  this  valuable  ecries  or" 
volumes  to  the  public  patronage.    \\'e  ki.uwci'no  mode  in  which  BO  much 
enter:  .rod,  at  so  cheap  a  rate,  as  in  tue  Family 

Library."—  A".  Y.  Daily  Advertiser. 

.  he  in  the  l'.a?:i!s  of  even-  person.    Thus 

far  it  has  treated  of  subjects  iin^rcstnig  to  nil,  condensed  in  o  perspicuous 
and  agreeable  S:Y!R  ......  We  hftvo  .-  :  -Mkcn  of  the 

design  of  this  work,  and  of  the  able  manner  hi  which  it  Is  edited,  that  oti 

:.  that  it  is  worthy  a  place 

•in  every  library  in  the  country,  and  will  prove  one  of  the  moat  useful  an 
it  is  one  cf  the  most  ias  ever  issued  from 

tue  American  press."— 

;:.-r:od  to  commend  to  public  attrv 

rncoura£remc:it  the  collection  of  delightful  \vorko  now  in  a  course  ol'pub- 
rtUo  a;:proi.r  .y  Library."—  A*.  Y.  JSi-e- 

ning  Journal. 

nave  repeatedly  exprc.sscd  our  u:.  fidence  in  the 

n:er;fs  of  this  valuable  Beries  of  popular  and  iriEtructive  looks.    Tae 

.".8!Kg 

favour  of  the  erUipi.  have  beard  c; 

tine  li:  •'•  nnd  newspaper  pu1 

have  ution  of  the 

v  Library.     A 

a  class  of  publications  pure  in  sentiment  and  judicious  and  tasteful  in 
3 

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merit  cf  the  Fawiily  Library  will  suiter  no  decline."—  N.  Y.  Evening  I'ost. 

"  The  Family  Library  is  a  collection  which  should  be  sought  after  by 
every  one  desirous  of  procuring  the  most  Yaiuajie  ; 
cheapest  and  most  convenient  form."  —  N.  Y.  Daily  Stntinel. 

"Those  who  condense  and  arrange  such  works  for  publication,  and 
they  a-so  who  promulgate  them,  richly  deserve  the  thanks  snd  patronage 
of  ail  euli^i.  mtics  iu  tue  country.  The  Family  Library 

promipes  to  be  a  most  useful  and  cheap  repository  of  the  most  irnportart 

' 


vuiiis  of  proiUfie,  ancient,  cud  modern  history..'.  .  -A  series  of  volun 
weft  conducted,  and  published  with  such  stirring  contents,  cannot  fail  to 
earpaas  all  dry  encyclopedias,  or  uiiTuw  and  elaborute  histories  or  bicgra- 
jihios,  misersbly  translated,  end  extended  to  the  very  stretch  of  vt-r- 
but,  tyf—Pktiadtipki*  Gazette. 


FAMILY  CLASSICAL  LIBRARY 


THK  Publishers  have  much  pleasure  in  recording 
the  following  testimonials  in  recommendation  of  the 
Family  Classical  Library. 

"Mr.  Valpy  has  projected  a  Family  Classical  Library.  The  idea  is 
excellent,  and  the  work  cannot  fail  to  be  acceptable  to  youth  of  both  sexes, 
as  well  as  to  a  large  portion  of  the  reading  community,  who  have  not  had 
the  benefit  of  a  learned  education." — Gentleman's  Magazine,  Dec.  182i>. 

"  We  have  here  the  commencement  of  another  undertaking  for  the  more 
general  distribution  of  knowledge,  and  one  which,  if  as  well  conducted 
a«  we  may  expect,  bids  fair  to  occupy  an  enlarged  station  in  our  imme- 
diate literature.  Tiie  volume  b ofore  us  is  a  specimen  well  calculated  to 
recommend  what  are  to  follow.  Leland's  Demosthenes  is  an  excellent 
work." — Lit.  Gazette. 

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knows  tho  value  of  classical  knowledge.  All  that  we  call  purity  of  taste, 
Tigour  of  style,  and  forsc  of  thought,  has  cither  been  taught  to  the  modern 
world  by  the  study  of  the  classics,  or  had  been  guided  and  restrained  by 
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do  a  public  service." — Court  Journal. 

"  The  Family  Classical  Library  is  another  of  those  cheap,  useful,  and 
elegant  works,  which  we  lately  spoke  of  as  forming  an  era  in  our  pub- 
lishing history." — Spectator. 

•;  The  p'esent  era  seems  destined  to  be  honourably  distinguished  in 
literary  history  by  the  high  character  of  the  works  to  which  it  is  succes- 
sively giving  birth.  Proudly  independent  of  the  fleeting  taste  of  the  day, 
they  boast  substantial  worth  which  tan  never  be  disregarded;  they  put 
forth  a  claim  to  permanent  estimation.  The  Family  Classical  Library  ia 
a  noble  undertaking,  which  the  name  of  the  editor  assures  us  will  be  exe- 
cuted in  a  style  worthy  of  the  great  originals." — Morning  Post. 

"  This  is  a  very  promising  speculation ;  and  as  the  taste  of  the  day  runs 
just  now  very  strongly  m  favour  of  such  Miscellanies,  we  doubt  not  it 
will  meet  with  proportionate  success.  It  needs  no  adventitious  aid,  how- 
ever influential ;  it  has  quite  sufficient  merit  to  enable  it  to  stand  on 
its  own  foundation",  and  will  doubtless  assume  a  lofty  grade  in  public 
favour." — Sun 

"  This  work,  published  at  a  low  price,  is  beautifully  got  up.  Though 
to  profess  to  be  content  with  translations  of  the  Classics  has  been  de- 
nounced as  '  the  thin  disguise  of  indolence,'  there  are  thousands  who 
have  no  leisure  for  studying  the  dead  languages,  who  would  yet  like  to 
know  what  was  thought  and  said  by  the  sages  and  poets  of  antiquity. 
To  them  this  work  will  be  a  treasure." — Sunday  Times. 

"This  design,  which  is  to  communicate  a  knowledge  of  the  most 
esteemed  authors  of  Greece  and  Rome,  by  the  most  approved  translations, 
to  those  from  whom  their  treasures,  without  such  assistance,  would  b« 
liidden,  must  surely  be  approved  by  every  friend  of  literature,  by  every 
lover  of  mankind.  We  shall  only  say  of  the  first  volume,  that  as  the 
execution  well  accords  with  the  design,  it  must  command  general  appro- 
bation."— The  Observer. 

"  We  see  no  reason  why  this  work  should  not  find  its  way  into  the 
boudoir  of  the  lady,  as  well  as  into  the  library  of  the  learned.  It  is  cheap, 
portable,  and  altogether  a  work  which  may  safely  be  placed  in  the  hand* 
of  persons  of  both  sexes."—  Weekly  Free  Press. 


PROSPECTUS 

OF  THE 

LIBRARY  OF  SELECT  NOVELS. 


FICTITIOUS  competition  is  now  admitted  to  form  an  extensive  and  im- 
portant purtion  of  literature.  Well-wrought  nov./ls  t;iA.-  their  rank  hy  the 
side  of  real  narratives,  and  arc  appealed  to  as  evidence  in  all  question* 
concerning  inan.  In  them  the  customs  of  countries,  the  transitions  ami 
shades  of  character,  and  even  tun  very  peculiarities  of  costume  and  dia- 
lect, are  curiously  preserved  ;  and  the  imperishable  spirit  lhat  surrounds 
and  k;?e;>s  them  lor  the  use  of  successive  generations  renders  the  rarities 
for  ever  fresh  and  green.  In  thi-m  human  liir  is  laid  down  as  on  a  map. 
The  strong  n:id  vivid  exhibitions  of  i-n^sion  and  of  character  which  they 
furnish,  acquire  and  maintain  the  strongest  hold  ii|>on  the  curiosity,  and, 
it  may  be  adde.l.  the  alleetions  of  i-vi-ry  chis-s  of  p-ai'.'Ts  ;  tor  not  pi 
entertainment  ,a  all  tl.c  various  moo<!s  <>f  tr.-.m-t'y  and  comedy  provided  ;:i 
their  pages,  but  he  who  rends  them  attentively  may  often  obi  am,  without 
t,:e  hiUcnir-s  :.i,d  '.;.._-.  r  <>l'  •  •\;>trii'iiee,  that  knowledge  of  his  fel!o\v- 
creatures  which  but  for  sucli  aid  could,  in  the  majority  of  cases,  be  only 
a-.-qiMred  ct  a  period  of  life  to-)  late  to  Mini  it  to  aivoum. 

This  "  Library  of  Select  Novels"  v.  ill  ••mhrace  none  but  such  as  have 
received  the  impress  of  general  approbation,  or  have  been  written  by 
authors  of  established  character ;  and  the  publishers  hope  to  receive  such 
encouragement  from  the  public  patronage  a-<  will  enable  them  in  i\\" 
course  of  time  to  produce  a  series  of  works  of  uniform  appearance,  and 
including  most  of  the  really  valuable  novels  an  ' 
or  shall  be  issued  from  the  modern  English  and  American  , 

There  is  scarcely  any  question  connected  wi;h  the  interests  of  literature 
which  has  been  more  thorough!)  .1  investigated  than  that  of 

the  utility  or  evil  of  novel  reading.  In  its  favour  iruuli  may  l.e  and  has 
been  said,  and  it  must  be  admitted  that  the  reasonings  or  those  who  be- 
lieve novels  to  be  injurious,  or  at  least  useless,  are  not  without  force  airl 
plausibility.  Vet,  if  the  arguments  against  novels  are  closely  examined, 
it  will  be  found  that  they  are  more  applicable  in  general  to  excessive  in- 
dulgence in  the  pleasures  afforded  by  the  perusal  of  fictitious  adventures 
than  to  the  works  themselves ;  and  that  the  evils  which  can  be  justly 
ascribed  to  them  arise  almost  exclusively,  not  from  any  peculiar  noxious 
qualities  that  can  be  fairly  attributed  to  novels  as  a  species,  but  from  those 
individual  works  which  in  their  class  must  be  pronounced  to  be  indif- 
ferent. 

But  even  were  it  otherwise — were  novels  of  every  kind,  the  good  aa 
well  us  the  bad,  the  striking  and  animated  not  less  than  the  puerile,  in- 
deed liable  to  the  charge  of  enfeebling  or  perverting  the  mind  ;  and  were 
there  no  qualities  in  any  which  might  render  them  instructive  as  well  aa 
amusing — the  universal  acceptation  which  they  have  ever  received,  and 
still  continue  to  receive,  from  all  ages  and  classes  of  men,  would  prove 
an  irresistible  incentive  to  their  production.  The  remonstrances  of  moral- 
ists and  the  reasonings  of  philosophy  have  ever  been,  and  will  still  be 
found,  unavailing  against  the  desire  to  partake  of  an  enjoyment  so  attrac- 
tive. Men  will  read  novels ;  and  therefore  th«  utmost  that  wisdom  and 
philanthropy  can  do  is  to  cater  prudently  for  the  public  appetite,  and,  as  it 
is  hopeless  to  attempt  the  exclusion  of  fictitious  writings  from  the  shelves 
of  the  library,  to  see  that  they  are  encumbered  with  the  least  possible 
number  of  such  as  have  no  other  merit  than  that  of  novelty. 


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STANDARD    WORKS, 

PUBLISHED  BY 

J.  &.  J.  HARPER,  82  CLIFF-STREET 
NEW-YORK. 

And  for  Sale  by  the  principal  Booksellers  throughout  the  United  States. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   JEWS.      By  the  Rev.   H.  H 

MILMAN.     In  3  vols.  18mo.     Illustrated  with  original  Maps 
and  Engravings. 

Until  the  appearance  of  Professor  M ilman's  admirable  work,  there 
was  no  History  of  the  Jews,  deserving  of  the  name,  except  that 
of  Josephus  :  and  he  lived  at  a  period  too  remote,  and  too  limited  in 
its  knowledge,  to  enable  him  to  do  justice  to  the  subject.  The  no- 
tices to  be  (bund  in  various  Universal  Histories  are  meager  and  un- 
satisfactory ;  and  a  narrative  at  once  Christian  and  liberal  in  its  tone, 
spirited  and  elegant  in  its  language,  and  adequately  depicting  the 
manners,  wars,  religion,  and  policy  of  the  most  remarkable  of  nations, 
wis  still  wanting.  The  nature  of  the  present  work  is  strictly  his- 
torical— not  theolocgial — yet  it  elucidates  many  obscure  passages  in 
the  Old  Testament,  employs  with  great  skill  the  casual  evidence  of 
heathen  writers,  and  throws  new  light  on  the  manners  and  custom* 
of  the  Hebrews  by  frequent  references  to  the  pages  of  the  oldest 
travellers. 

"  Professor  H.  H.  Milman  is  one  of  the  most  chaste  and  classical 
writers  of  the  age.  The  History  of  the  Jews  embraced  in  the  vol- 
umes before  us,  has  already  passed  through  three  editions  in  Eng- 
land, and  is  highly  and  justly  commended  by  many  of  the  most 
respectable  periodicals." — N.  Y.  Journal  of  Commerce. 

"It  is  written  in  a  very  interesting  manner — in  a  more  phd, 
tophical  spirit,  and  with  more  depth  of  reflection,  than  is  generaU 
found  in  histories  of  this  nature.     It  is  not  wanting  in  historical  coa 
densation,  and  the  colouring  of  the  style  is  lively  and  picturesque."— 
N.  Y.  Evening  P+st. 

"The  narrative  of  the  various  and  highly  interesting  events  It 
that  period  flows  on  in  a  chaste  style  ;  and  a  thorough  knowledge 
of  his  subject  is  evident  in  every  page.  The  work  is  spirited,  well 
arranged,  and  full  of  information,  and  of  a  wise  and  well-cultivated 
•pirit." — Athenaeum. 

"The  style  in  which  it  is  written  is  remarkably  lucid  and  elegant: 
attractive  by  its  general  smoothness  and  simplicity,  yet  animates 
and  forcible." — Baltimort  Republican 


2  STANDARD    WORKS. 

LIFE    OF   NAPOLEON   BONAPARTE.      By   J.   G. 

LOCKFIART,  Esq.     In  2  vols.  18mo.     With  Engravings. 

This  celebiated  work  contains  an  epitome  of  .all  that  has  been 
proved  to  be  true  concerning  the  character  and  actions  of  the  most 
extraordinary  man  of  the  last  thousand  years.  The  English  lan- 
guage possesses  no  other  authentic  epitome  of  his  history  ;  and,  not- 
withstanding the  smallness  of  the  limits  within  which  it  is  com- 
pressed, the  narrative  throughout  is  clear,  distinct,  and  copious. 
The  life  of  Napoleon,  doubly  interesting  when  relieved  of  the 
tediousness  of  useless  detail,  has  never  been  better  to'-i. 

The  work  is  written  with  commendable  impartiality,  and  the 
author  has  been  careful  to  interweave  with  his  narrative  all  the  new 
illustrations  and  anecdotes  furnished  by  Bourrienne,  and  other 
French  writers,  whose  memoirs  have  appeared  since  the  publication 
of  the  great  work  of  Sir  Walter  Scott,  from  which  a  large  portion 
of  his  materials  was  derived.  As  an  evidence  of  the  amazing  popu- 
larity of  this  History,  it  is  stated  that  more  than  27000  copies  have 
been  disposed  of  in  Great  Britain  alone. 

LIFE  OF  NELSON.     By  ROBERT  SOUTHEY,  Esq.,  LL.D. 
18mo.     With  a  Portrait. 

This  Biography  has  been  pronounced  one  of  the  Laureate's  most 
successful  efforts  :  the  enthusiastic  and  romantic  character  of  Nel- 
eon  furnished  a  congenial  subject,  and  he  has  treated  it  with  con- 
summate ability.  The  errors  of  the  fortunate  and  gallant  admiral 
are  fairly  and  fearlessly  exposed ;  while  the  nobler  elements  of  his 
mind,  his  heroic  courage,  his  perseverance,  and  his  insatiable  appe- 
tite for  glory,  as  well  as  the  great  actions  in  which  they  are  dis- 
played, are  described  and  illustrated  with  a  happy  choice  of  language 
and  most  felicitous  effect. 

"  Southey's  fine  and  popular  biography  of  Nelson  was  very  much 
wanted,  and  is  now  to  be  had  very  cheap,  in  a  neat  and  con- 
venient form."— N.  Y.  Com.  Advertiser. 

LIFE  OF  ALEXANDER  THE  GREAT.     By  the  Rev. 
JOHN  WILLIAMS,  A.M.      ISmo.     With  a  Map. 

This  volume  fills  a  blank  in  the  historical  library,  and  furnishes 
an  excellent  manual  for  the  student.  It  is  not  confined  to  the  mere 
exploits  and  adventures  of  the  Macedonian  hero,  although  they  con- 
stitute the  leading  topic,  but  contains  a  masterly  view  of  the  times 
in  which  he  lived,  and  of  the  manners,  arts,  and  sciences  of  the 
Greeks,  Persians,  Egyptians,  Arabs  and  Indians,  and  other  nations 
whom  he  visited  or  conquered.  The  story  is  well  and  elegantly 
told,  and  conveys  a  more  distinct  and  accurate  idea  of  the  ancient 
Napoleon  than  is  to  be  found  in  any  other  history.  In  the  perusal, 
the  curiosity  of  the  reader  is  gratified  as  well  as  stimulated, 
and  his  mind  is  moved  to  profitable  reflection. 

"The  style  is  good,  and  the  narrative  well  conducted.    A  modern 
history  of  this  famous  warrior  cannot  fail  to  be  interesting." — 7 
York  Daily  Advertiser. 


STANDARD    WORKS.  5 

NATURAL  HISTORY  OF  INSECTS.     18mo.     Illus- 
trated by  numerous  Engra\: 

The  study  of  Natural  History  is  at  all  times,  and  to  almost  every 
person,  eminently  pleasing  and  instructive  :  the  object  u  thjs  admi- 
rable volume  has  been  to  render  it  doubly  captivating  by  the  plain 
and  simple  style  in  winch  it  is  treated,  and  oy  the  numerous  engra- 
vings with  which  the  text  is  illustrated.  There  is  no  branch  of  this 
delightful  science  more  pleasing  than  that  which  exhibits  the  won- 
derful goodr.ess  and  wisdom  of  the  Creator,  as  they  are  displayed  in 
the  endless  varieties  of  insect  Ule — their  torms,  habits,  capacities 
and  works— and  which  investigates  the  nature  and  peculiarities 
these  diminutive  tribes  of  animated  existence 

"  It  seems  to  us  that  it  will  prove*  at  once  agreeable  and  instru 
(o  persons  of  all  classes." — A.  Y.  Daily  Advertiser 

LIFE  OF  LORD  BYRON.     By  JOHN  G ALT,  Esq.     18mo. 

The  splendour  of  Lord  Byron's  fame,  and  the  interest  attendant 
upon  the  story  of  his  eventful  life  and  early  death,  have  combined  to 
render  his  biography  a  work  of  more  than  usual  attraction.  Mr. 
Gait  enjoyed  the  advantages  consequent  upon  a  long  and  intimate 
acquaintance  with  the  noble  poet,  and  has  given  a  striking  and  satis 
factory  description  of  his  mind  and  character.  One  of  the  greatest 
merits-  of  the  work  is  its  strict  impartiality  :  the  writer  is  evidently 
free  from  prejudice  either  favourable  or  adverse  to  his  subject,  and 
tells  what  he  knows  or  believes  to  be  the  truth,  without  any  bias 
from  envy,  ill-will,  or  affection 

•'  The  sprightly  pen  of  the  author  has  communicated  uncommon 
interest  to  this  work,  and  he  appears  to  have  done  perfect  justice  to 
its  inspired  subject." — Albany  Daily  Advertiser. 

"  Mr.  Gait  is  one  of  the  most  fascinating  writers  of  the  age."— 
Journal  of  Commerce. 

IFE  OF  MOHAMMED;  Founder  of  the  Religion  o* 
Islam  and  of  the  Empire  of  the  Saracens.  By  the  Rev 
GEORGE  BUSH,  A.M.  18mo.  With  a  Plate. 

The  objects  of.  the  writer  in  the  preparation  of  this  volume  have 
been  condensation,  clearness,  and  accuracy.  It  was  written  ex- 
pressly for  the  publishers  by  an  American  author,  and,  in  addi- 
tion to  the  numerous  and  highly  flattering  commendations  bestow  eU 
upon  it  by  the  press,  it  has  received  the  testimonial  of  republication 
in  England.  In  one  respect,  the  plan  adopted  by  the  author  pre- 
sents an  improvement  upon  preceding  memoirs  of  the  great  impostor 
in  the  careful  collocation  of  the  chapters  of  the  Koran  with  th« 
events  of  the  narrative,— a  method  by  which  the  history  is  illustrated 
in  a  remarkable  degree.  The  appendix,  containing  a  series  of  pro- 
phetic investigations,  is  peculiarly  curious,  learned,  and  valuable. 

"  Mr.  Bush  is  a  scholar  of  extensive  acquirements,  and  well  fittei 
/or  the  task  which  he  has  undertaken  in  this  volume."—  N.  Y.  Ob*. 


STANDARD    WORKS. 

LETTERS  ON  DEMONOLOGY  AND  WITCHCRAFT. 

By  Sir  WALTER  SCOTT,  Bart;     18mo.     With  an  Engraving. 

This  is  a  very  curious  and  interesting  work,  containing  as  it  does 
the  results  of  much  thought  and  great  research  upon  one  of  the  most 
exciting  topics  of  human  inquiry.  Most  of  Sir  Walter  Scott's  un- 
rivalled novels  betray  rhe  predilection  for  the  supernatural  with 
which  his  mind  was  tinged,  and  the  extent  of  his  reading  in  works 
which  treat  of  "  the  history  of  that  dark  chapter  of  human  nature" 
to  which  this  volume  is  devoted.  In  it  he  has  laid  open  the  stores 
of  his  memory,  and  strikingly  condensed  and  elucidated  the  subject ; 
in  many  cases  explaining,  by  most  ingenious  theories,  occurrences 
which  seem  to  lie  beyond  the  boundaries  of  natural  action. 

"This  volume  is  most  interesting,  and  will  be  read  with  great 
pleasure  by  almost  every  class  of  readers." — U.  S.  Gazette. 

"  The  subject  is  most  alluring,  and  the  manner  in  which  it  is  han- 
dled is  magical." — Athen. 

HISTORY  OF  TH  E  BIBLE.     By  the  Rev.  G.  R.  GLEIO. 

In  2  vols.  18mo.     With  a  Map  of  Palestine. 

These  volumes  do  not,  as  from  their  title  one  might  imagine,  con* 
tain  merely  an  account  of  the  origin  and  contents  of  the  Sacred 
Volume :  the"  object  of  the  writer  has  extended  far  beyond  this.  He 
has  produced,  perhaps,  the  most  elaborate  and  able  examination 
of  the  various  objections  urged  against  the  Scriptures  that  has  ever 
been  written ;  and,  at  the  same  time,  one  of  the  clearest  and  most 
satisfactory  expositions  of  the  whole  Bible,  not  only  as  the  founda- 
tion of  our  faith,  but  also  as  a  history.  In  the  performance  of  his 
task,  Mr.  Gleig  has  exhibited  equal  piety  and  learning,  and  his  work 
is  calculated  to  facilitate  to  a  remarkable  degree  both  the  compre- 
hension and  enjoyment  of  the  inspired  writings. 

"  The  style  of  it  is  surpassed  by  no  work  with  which  we  are 
acquainted." — Albany  Telegraph  and  Register. 

POLAR  SEAS  AND  REGIONS.  By  Professors  LESLIE 
and  JAMESON,  and  HUGH  MURRAY,  Esq.  18mo.  With  Maps 
and  Engravings. 

The  plan  of  these  works  would  not  be  complete  without  a 
requisite  degree  of  attention  to  the  most  recent  improvements  and 
discoveries  in  every  branch  of  science.  In  none  have  greater  ad- 
vances been  made,  in  the  present  century,  than  in  geography  arid  the 
knowledge  of  the  earth  which  we  inhabit,  and  care  has  accordingly 
been  taken  to  include  the  best  of  such  works  as  treat  of  these  dis- 
coveries. The  Polar  Seas  and  Regions  have  been  most  fertile  in 
results  through  the  enterprise  and  perseverance  of  a  Ross,  a  FrankJin, 
and  a  Parry,  and  the  work  in  which  their  investigations  are  described 
is  one  of  the  most  interesting  and  instructive  of  the  series. 

"  The  writers  are  gentlemen  of  first-rate  standing  in  the  scientific 
World,  and  the  subject  is  one  to  which  every  curious  mind  is  attracted 
vj  a  sort  of  involuntary  impulse." — N.  Y.  Journal  of  Commerce. 


STANDARD    WORKS. 

LIFE  AND  TIMES  OF  GEORGE  IV.    By  the  Ret 

GEORGE  CROLY.     18mo.     With  a  Portrait. 


The  regency  and  reign  of  this  monarch  occupied  one  of  the 

eventful  and  interesting  periods  of  English  history,  not  only  from  thn 

magnitude  and  importance  of  their  political  occurrences,  but  also 

from  the  vast  improvements  in  science  and  the  arts  by  which  they 

were  distinguished,  and  the  number  of  eminent   individuals  who 

flourished  at  this  epoch.     The  character  of  George  himself  was  not 

the  least  remarkable  among  those  ol  the  principal  personages  of  the 

ime,  and  it  has  been  handled  by  Mr.  Croly  with  a  just  and  fearless, 

ut  not  uncharitable  spirit.     His  perceptions  are  close,  keen,  and  ac 

Urate,  and  his  language  singularly  terse  and  energetic.    His  work 

ill  be  of  the  highest  value  to  the  future  historian. 

"  Mr.  Croly  has  acquitted  himself  very  handsomely.  His  subject 
is  one  of  much  interest,  and  he  has  treated  it  with  unusual  impar- 
tiality. The  author's  style  is  chaste,  classical,  and  beautiful,  and  it 
may  be  taken  as  a  model  of  fine  writing."  —  Mercantile  Advertiser. 

DISCOVERY  AND  ADVENTURE  IN  AFRICA.     By 

Professor  JAMESON,  and  JAMES  WILSON  and  Huou  MURRAY, 
Esqrs.     18mo.     With  a  Map  and  Engravings. 

In  this  volume  is  recorded  every  thing  that  is  known  of  the  interior 
of  that  dangerous  continent  which  has  been  for  so  many  ages  a  terr* 
incognita,  and  proved  the  grave  of  so  manv  enterprising  traveller^ 
except  what  has  been  revealed  to  us  by  the  recent  investigation* 
of  John  and  Richard  Lander,  whose  adventures  form  the  subject 
of  two  of  the  succeeding  numbers  of  the  Library.  The  plan  of  the 
work  consists  of  condensed  abstracts  of  the  narratives  of  all  the  mod- 
ern African  travellers,  in  which  every  thing  important  or  intr  t 

Li  preserved,  while  the  unessential  details  have  been  so  abbreviated 
as  to  bring  the  substance  of  each  account  within  convenient  linilU. 

"  This  work  we  believe  will  be  interesting  to  every  class  of  reader*, 
especially  to  the  philanthropist  and  Christian."  —  N.  Y.  Evangelist. 

LIVES  OF  EMINENT  PAINTERS  AND  SCULPTORS 

By  ALLAN  CUNNINGHAM.     In  3  vols.  18mo.     With  Portrait* 

The  author  has  collected,  in  these  small  volumes,  a  history  of  art 
fa  England,  and  the  lives,  characters,  and  works  of  its  most  eminent 
professors,  —  the  materials  of  which  were  previously  scattered  through 
many  volumes,  inaccessible  and  uninviting  to  the  mass  of  readert. 
The  critical  observations  profusely  scattered  through  these  biog- 
raphies will  render  them  useful  to  the  student,  while  the  personal 
anecdotes  with  which  they  abound  make  them  equally  alluring  to 
the  ordinary  reader.  The  labours  and  struggles  of  genius,  the  suo 
cess  of  perseverance,  and  the  inutility  of  talent  unallied  to  prudence, 
as  exemplified  in  these  narratives,  afford  a  useful  moral  lesson,  whil6 
the  incidents  which  illustrate  them  become  the  source  of  pleasure 
and  entertainment. 

"The  whole  narrative  is  lively  and  alluring."—  N.  Y.  Ada** 


STANDARD  WORKS. 

HISTORY  OF  CHIVALRY  AND  THE  CRUSADES. 

By  G.  P.  R.  JAMES,  Esq.      18mo.     With  Engravings. 

No  modern  writer  is,  perhaps,  so  well  qualified  to  write  upon  this 
subject  as  the  author  of  "  Richelieu,"  and  of  the  "  Life  and  Times 
of  Charlemagne;"  unquestionably,  since  the  death  of  Sir  Walter 
Scott,  the  best  informed  historical  antiquary  of  the  age.  The  present 
work  contains,  in  a  small  compass,  a  clear  and  concise  account  of 
that  celebrated  institution  which,  in  process  of  time,  became  the 
foundation  of  the  modern  European  systems  of  government  and  juris- 
prudence, with  a  vivid  description  of  those  amazing  ebullitions  of 
national  enthusiasm  which  poured  such  immense  multitudes  of  waP 
like  pilgrims  upon  the  plains  of  Asia,  and  produced  such  extraordi- 
nary changes  in  the  condition  of  mankind.  The  work  is  eminently 
curious,  interesting,  learned,  and  philosophical. 

"  The  author  of  this  work  has  done  the  public  a  service,  which 
we  tliink  will  be  duly  appreciated." — JV.  F.  Daily  Advertiser. 

LIFE  OF  MARY  QUEEN  OF  SCOTS.     By  H.  G.  BELL. 

In  2  vols.  18mo.     With  a  Portrait. 

It  is  now  generally  admitted  that  great  injustice  has  been  done  to 
the  character  of  Mary,  and  that  there  is  good  reason  to  believe  her, 
to  say  the  least,  guiltless  of  the  dark  offences  charged  against  hei 
Mr.  Bell  has  undertaken  her  vindication,  and,  having  investigated 
the  facts  with  uncommon  industry  and  patience,  he  has  succeeded 
in  establishing  a  conviction  of  her  entire  innocence.  The  sym- 
pathy excited  by  the  story  of  her  beauty  and  her  misfortunes  is 
now  heightened  by  the  assurance  of  her  wrongs.  Mr.  Bell's  is  con- 
sidered the  most  affecting,  as  well  as  the  most  impartial  life  of  Mary 
that  has  been  written. 

*'  The  reader  will  be  pleased  to  leam  that  the  life  of  Mary  has  been 
written  anew,  by  one  who  appears,  both  in  temper  and  talent,  ex- 
tremely well  qualified  for  the  task." — JV.  Y.  Atlas. 

ANCIENT  AND  MODERN  EGYPT.     By  the  Rev.  M. 
RUSSELL,  LL.D.     18mo.     With  a  Map  and  Engravings. 

In  this  volume  is  contained  a  distinct  and  well  arranged  account 
fall  that  is  known  with  certainty  respecting  the  ancient  history,  aa 
well  as  the  present  condition,  of  that  extraordinary  country  whose 
antiquity  baffles  the  research  of  the  most  persevering  explorers,  and 
to  which  both  Rome  and  Greece  were  indebted  for  at  least  the  ru- 
diments of  those  arts  and  sciences  which  were  brought  in  them  to 
such  perfection.  The  stupendous  remains  of  Egyptian  architecture, 
and  the  treasures  of  knowledge  that  still  remain  locked  up  in  the  far- 
famed  hieroglyphics,  have  long  engaged  the  attention  of  the  most  ac- 
complished scholars,  and  every  thing  relating  to  them  and  the  land 
in  which  they  exist  is  in  the  highest  degree  interesting  to  the  in- 
quiring mind. 

"  All  that  is  known  of  Egypt  is  condensed  into  this  history ;  and 
the  readers  of  it  will  find  themselves  well  repaid  for  their  labour  and 
Uioney." — New-Haven  Advertiser* 


STANDARD    WORKS.  7 

HISTORY  OF  POLAND.     By  JAMES  FLETCHER,  Esq. 
18mo.     With  a  Portrait  of  Kosciusko. 

The  recent  unsuccessful  effort  of  the  gallant  aid  unfortunate 
Poles  to  break  their  yoke  of  bondage  ha*  fixed  the  attention  and 
awakened  the  sympathies  of  every  lover  of  freedom  and  every  friend 
to  humanity.  The  writer  of  this  history  iias  brought  to  his  under- 
taking much  learning,  great  industry  and  patience  in  research,  and 
the  most  unbiased  candour.  The  volume  is  full  of  interest  anl 
useful  information,  drawn  from  an  immense  variety  of  sources,  many 
of  which  are  not  accessible  to  the  mass  of  readers,  particularly  in 
America. 

44  Of  the  writer's  fairness  and  research  we  have  a  very  good 
opinion ;  and  his  book  is  just  the  thing  that  is  wanted  at  the  present 
moment." — N.  Y.  American. 

44  No  work  has  for  a  long  period  been  published  here  so  deserving 
of  praise  and  so  replete  witk  interest." — American  Traveller. 

FESTIVALS,  GAMES,  AND  AMUSEMENTS,  Ancient 

and  Modern.  By  HORATIO  SMITH,  Esq.  18mo.  With  Addi- 
tions. By  SAMUEL  WOODWORTH,  Esq.,  of  New-York.  With 
Engravings. 

14  Laws,  institutions,  empires  pass  away  and  are  forgotten,  but  tha 
diversions  of  a  people,  being  commonly  interwoven  with  some  im- 
mutable element  01  the  general  feeling,  or  perpetuated  by  circum 
stances  of  climate  and  locality,  will  frequently  survive  when  every 
other  national  peculiarity  has  worn  itself  out  and  fallen  into  oblivion. 
This  extract  shows  the  spirit  in  which  this  captivating  volume  was 
designed,  and  its  pretensions  to  utility.    The  information  imtxxiied 
in  its  pages  is  curious  and  extensive,  and  not  the  least  attractive  po*» 
tion  is  the  account  of  the  amusements,  &c.  peculiar  to  different  sec 
tioris  of  the  United  States,  added  by  Mr.  Woodworth. 

"  The  book  is  highly  amusing  and  interesting." — Penn.  Inquirer. 

JFE  OF  SIR  ISAAC  NEWTON.     By  DAVID  BREWSTKB 
LL.D.  F.R.S.     18mo.     With  a  Portrait  and  Woodcuts. 

This  is  the  only  extended  Life  of  the  greatest  of  English  philoso- 
phers ever  given  to  the  public.  In  attempting  to  supply  a  vacancy 
in  philosophic  and  scientific  literature,  Sir  David  Brewster,  himself 
one  of  the  most  profound  and  eminent  savans  of  the  age,  has  not 
only  sought  out  from  resources  hitherto  unknown  and  inaccessible 
to  previous  writers  every  fresh  and  novel  particular  of  Newton's  life, 
but  has  given  the  most  lucid  explanations  of  his  great  discoveries, 
and  the  steps  by  which  they  were  accomplished  ;  and  has  been  re- 
markably successful  in  rendering  these  intelligible  to  all  classes  of 
readers. 


8  STANDARD    WORK? 

PALESTINE,  OR  THE  HOLY  LAND.     By  the  Rev. 
M.  RUSSELL,  LL.D.     18mo.     With  a  Map  and  Engraving*. 

The  early  history  of  that  most  interesting-  portion  of  the  globe— 
the  theatre  of  those  wonderful  events  from  which  our  religion  is  de- 
rived— as  well  as  its  present  state,  is  described  in  this  volume  with 
the  greatest  accuracy.  The  places  of  many  of  the  incidents  recorded 
in  the  Bible  are  pointed  out,  and  the  changes  that  have  occurred  in 
the  lapse  of  ages  are  carefully  delineated.  The  work  may  be  read 
with  pleasure  and  advantage  in  connexion  with  the  Sacred  History 
t  which  it  confirms  and  illustrates. 

"  This  work  is  the  most  desirable  record  of  Palestine  we  hai* 
6V er  seen." — American  Traveller. 

"  The  whole  volume  will  amply  repay  perusal." — N.  Y.  American. 

MEMOIRS  OF  THE   EMPRESS   JOSEPHINE.     By 

JOHN  S.  MEMES,  LL.D.     18mo.     With  Portraits. 

Amid  the  turmoils,  the  vast  achievements,  the  ambitious  aspirings, 
and  the  complicated  intrigues  which  mark  the  era  of  Napoleon's 
greatness,  it  is  refreshing  to  pursue  the  elegant  and  gentle  course  of 
Josephine,  whose  affection  for  the  conqueror  and  native  goodness  of 
heart  were  so  often  made  the  instruments  of  mercy,  and  whose  per 
suasive  voice  was  ever  ready  to  interpose  between  his  wrath  and  its 
trembling  object.  Placid  in  situations  peculiarly  trying,  Josephine 
preserved  her  character  unsullied,  and  the  story  of  her  life  abounds 
with  occasions  for  the  respect  and  admiration  of  the  reader.  The 
author  has  performed  his  task  with  great  ability,  and  the  public  is 
indebted  to  him  for  one  of  the  most  delightful  biographies. 

"  This  is  the  only  complete  biography  which  has  ever  appeared 
of  that  much  admired  woman." — N.  Y.  Constellation. 

"  This  work  will  be  found  to  possess  a  beauty  of  language,  a  fas- 
cination of  style,  and  a  depth  of  interest  which  few  works  of  thi* 
kind  can  claim." — Boston  Traveller. 

COURT  AND  CAMP  OF  BONAPARTE.     18mo.     Wit 
a  Portrait  of  Prince  Talleyrand. 

This  volume  has  been  carefully  prepared  as  a  suitable  and  indis- 
pensable companion  to  the  Life  of  Napoleon.  It  contains  the  sub- 
stance of  the  many  hundred  volumes  of  Memoirs,  Lives,  Narratives, 
anecdotes,  &c.,  connected  with  the  career  of  Napoleon,  with  which 
the  press  of  France  has  been  so  prolific  during  the  last  fifteen  years. 
It  presents  rapid  but  vigorously  drawn  sketches  of  the  emperor's 
brothers,  wives,  sisters,  ministers,  marshals,  and  generals;  and 
those  who  wish  to  gain  a  competent  knowledge  of  "  Napoleon  and  his 
times'1  will  find  no  work  in  any  language  which  conveys  so  much 
information  in  so  little  space  or  in  a  more  lively  and  agreeable 
manner. 

"  This  work  is  highly  interesting."— £7.  S. 


STANDARD    WORKS.  9 

LIVES  AND  VOYAGES  OF  DRAKE,  CAVENDISH, 
AND  DAMPIER ;  including  the  History  of  the  Bucanierg. 
18mo.  With  Portraits. 

The  relation  of  the  voyages,  discoveries,  and  adventures  of  early 
and  celebrated  English  navigators  is,  in  so  far,  a  history  of  the  rise 
of  her  naval  power.  In  this  volume  are  contained  the  lives  of  three 
of  the  most  eminent ;  and,  from  the  very  nature  of  the  subject,  it  pre- 
sents much  curious  and  valuable  information,  gleaned  from  many 
sources,  and  in  every  instance  verified  by  scrupulous  examination 
and  reference  to  original  documents.  Early  Spanish  Discovery  in 
the  South  Seas,  and  the  first  circumnavigation  of  the  globe  by  Ma- 
gellan, form  a  subordinate  but  appropriate  branch  of  the  work  ;  and 
the  subject  is  completed  by  the  History  of  the  Bucaniers, — those 
daring  rovers  whose  wild  adventures  afford  so  much  to  charm  the 
youthful  mind,  and  form  one  of  the  most  interesting  chapters  in  the 
annals  of  maritime  enterprise  and  adventure. 

DESCRIPTION  OF  PITCAIRN'S  ISLAND  AND  ITS 
INHABITANTS  ;  with  an  authentic  Account  of  the  Mutiny 
of  the  Ship  Bounty,  and  of  the  subsequent  Fortunes  of  the 
Mutineers.  By  JOHN  BARROW,  Esq.  18mo.  With  Engra- 
ving*. 

The  author  of  this  volume  has  brought  into  one  connected  view 
what  had  heretofore  appeared  cnly  in  detached  fragments,  an 
of  these  even  not  generally  accessible.  The  story  is  replete  with  in- 
terest. We  are  taught  by  the  Book  of  Sacred  History  that  the  diso- 
bedience of  pur  first  parents  entailed  upon  our  globe  a  sinful  and 
suffering  race  ;  in  our  own  time  there  has  sprung  up  from  the  most 
abandoned  of  this  depraved  family — from  pirates,  mutineers,  and 
murderers — a  little  society  which,  under  the  precepts  of  that  Sacred 
Volume,  is  characterized  by  religion,  morality,  and  innocence.  The 
discovery  of  this  happy  people,  as  unexpected  as  it  was  accidental, 
and  every  thing  relating  to  their  condition  and  history,  partake  so 
much  of  the  romantic  as  to  render  the  story  not  ill-adapted  for  an 
epic  poem. 

SACRED  HISTORY  OF  THE  WORLD;  as  displayed 
in  the  Creation  and  subsequent  Events  to  the  Deluge.  By 
SHARON  TURNER,  F.S.A.  18mo. 

To  exhibit  the  Divine  Mind  in  connexion  with  the  production  and 
preservation,  and  with  the  laws  and  agencies  of  visible  nature, 
and  to  lead  the  inquirer  to  perceive  the  clear  and  universal  dis» 
Unction  which  prevails  between  the  material  and  immaterial  sub- 
stances in  our  world,  both  in  their  phenomena  and  their  principles, 
is  the  main  object  of  this  admirable  volume.  In  it  religious  and 
scientific  instruction  are  skilfully  and  strikingly  blended,  and  facts 
and  principles  are  so  made  to  illustrate  each  other  that  the  mind  and 
heart  are  equally  improved  by  its  perusal,  and  the  cause  of  science  is, 
as  it  were,  identified  with  that  of  religion.  The  information  con- 
tained in  it  chiefly  relates  to  Natural  History,  and  it  is  extremely 
copious,  accurate,  and  interesting,  while  the  reflections  are  eminent 
for  their  depth,  wisdom,  and  piety. 


10  STANDARD    WORKS. 

MEMOIRS  OF  CELEBRATED  FEMALE  SOVE- 
REIGNS. By  Mrs.  JAMESON.  In  2  vols.  18mo. 

The  intention  of  this  work  is  to  illustrate  the  influence  which  a 
female  government  has  had  generally  on  men  and  nations,  and  that 
which  the  possession  of  power  has  had  individually  on  the  female 
character.  The  didactic  form  of  history  or  biography  has  not  always 
been  adhered  to;  incidents  and  characters  are  treated  rather  in  a 
moral  than  in  a  political  or  historical  point  of  view;  and  public 
affairs  and  national  events  are  not  dwelt  upon,  except  as  connected 
with  the  destiny,  or  emanating  from  the  passions  or  prejudices  of  the 
individual  or  sovereign.  The  Lives  form  an  admirable  illustration 
of  the  female  character,  and  the  lessons  they  furnish  abound  with  in 
striiction,  while  the  incidents  recorded  are  interesting,  not  only  in 
themselves,  but  as  authentic  details  of  remarkable  personages  whom 
circumstances  or  personal  qualities  have  invested  with  claims  to  our 
attention. 

AN  EXPEDITION  TO  EXPLORE  THE  COURSE 
AND  TERMINATION  OF  THE  NIGER.  By  RICHARD 
and  JOHN  LANDER.  In  2  vols.  18mo.  With  Maps  and  En- 
gravings. 

With  encouragement  and  assistance  of  a  very  limited  description 
these  adventurous  young  men  embarked  in  an  enterprise  which  in 
every  previous  instance  had  terminated  fatally ;  and  all  who  knew 
the  nature  of  the  climate,  and  the  grievous  hardships  they  must  en- 
counter, predicted  that  the  only  intelligence  ever  received  of  them 
would  be  some  obscure  rumour  of  their  destruction.  The  narrative 
ehows  how  often  these  predictions  were  on  the  point  of  being  verified. 
They  were  assailed  by  sickness,  imprisoned  in  filthy  huts,  sold  as 
slaves,  plundered,  abused,  and  nearly  sacrificed  to  the  cupidity  and 
revenge  of  the  ferocious  savages.  In  spite  of  all  these  obstacles,  by 
means  of  patience,  perseverance,  enthusiasm,  and  courage,  they 
finally  triumphed  over  every  difficulty  and  completely  gained  the 
object  of  their  mission,  thus  effecting  the  most  important  and  appar- 
ently the  most  hopeless  geographical  discovery  of  the  age. 

LIVES  OF  CELEBRATED  TRAVELLERS.  By 
JAMES  A.  ST.  JOHN.  In  3  vols.  18mo. 

Every  man  whose  mind  can  sympathize  with  human  nature  under 
•11  its  various  aspects,  and  can  detect  passions,  weaknesses,  and  vir- 
tues like  his  own  through  the  endless  disguises  effected  by  strange 
religions,  policies,  manners,  or  climates,  must  peruse  the  relations 
of  veracious  travellers  with  satisfaction  and  advantage.  The  author 
of  these  volumes  has  with  great  industry  and  judgment  compiled  a 
series  of  highly  interesting  narratives,  containing  the  most  striking 
incidents  in  the  lives  and  wanderings  of  all  the  celebrated  travellers 
that  have  flourished  within  the  last  eight  centuries,  taking  them  up 
in  their  regular  order  of  succession,  presenting  only  the  attractive 
portions,  and  omitting  all  useless  and  unnecessary  details.  The 
reader  will  find  in  these  volumes  the  substance  of  many  ponderous 
tomes,  most  of  which  are  rare,  and  only  to  be  found  in  the  extensive 
European  libraries. 


STANDARD    WORKS.  11 

INQUIRIES  CONCERNING  THE  INTELLECTUAL 
POWERS  AND  THE  INVESTIGATION  OF  TRUTH. 
By  JOHN  ABERCROMBIE,  M.D.  18ino. 

THE  PHILOSOPHY  OF  THE  MORAL  FEELINGS. 

13y  the  Same.     I8mo. 

The  study  of  the  phenomena  of  mind  presents  a  subject  of  intense 
interest,  not  only  to  the  moral  philosopher,  but  to  every  one  who  has 
in  view  the  cultivation  of  his  own  mental  powers.  In  the  pursuit 
of  this  study  one  of  the  greatest  obstacles  arises  from  the  difficulty 
of  procuring  facts,  and  this  obstacle  it  is  one  of  the  objects  of  tho 
present  volumes  to  assist  in  removing.  In  the  performance  of  his 
undertaking  the  accomplished  author  exhibits  the  possession  of  * 
mind  thoroughly  versed  in  the  details  of  the  science  to  which  hii 
attention  is  directed,  and  familiar  with  abstract  inquiry.  His  des- 
criptions of  the  mental  phenomena  are  singularly  lucid,  precise,  and 
interesting,  and  his  reasonings  sound,  original,  and  perspicuous.  HB 
never  seeks  to  surprise  by  the  ingenuity,  or  to  startle  by  the  novelty 
of  his  doctrines,  but  directs  all  his  force  against  the  most  prominent 
difficulties  of  his  subject,  and  never  quits  his  position  until  they  are 
subdued.  Above  all,  he  has  exhibited  philosophy  as  the  handmaid 
of  religion,  and  made  it  manifest  that  all  the  rays  of  knowledge 
naturally  converge  towards  that  one  point  in  which  is  situated  the 
throne  of  heavenly  and  eternal  truth. 

The  most  able  and  influential  reviews,  both  of  England  and  the 
United  States,  have  given  the  strongest  encomiums  to  this  admirable 
work,  arid  it  has  been  extensively  adopted  in  our  colleges  and 
higher  establishments  for  education, 

"  It  will  not  only  feed,  but  form  the  public  intellect.  It  cannot  be 
disseminated  too  widely  in  a  nation  eager  for  knowledge,  keen  in 
inquiry  to  a  proverb,  and  accustomed  to  think  no  matters  too  high 
for  fecrutiny,  no  authority  too  venerable  for  question." — Churchman* 

LIFE  OF  FREDERICK  II.,  KING  OF  PRUSSIA.     By 

LORD  DOVER.     In  2  vols.  18mo.     With  a  Portrait. 

Frederick  II.  lived  in  an  age  among  the  most  remarkable  in  the 
annals  of  the  world.  He  was  one  of  those  men  who  constitute  an 
epoch  ;  who,  by  their  paramount  influence  upon  the  events  of  a  par- 
ticular period,  impress  it,  in  a  degree,  with  characteristics  resulting 
from  their  own  peculiar  sentiments,  habits,  and  proceedings ;  who 
may  be  considered  monuments  on  the  road  of  ages  to  designate  cer- 
tain divisions  of  time.  But,  apart  from  the  character  of  Frederic, 
the  great  incidents  in  the  midst  of  which  he  lived  and  moved,  and  in 
which  he  was  a  prominent  actor,  render  this  period  of  European  his- 
tory one  of  the  mosi  interesting  and  important ;  and  it  has  been  ably 
delineated  by  the  modern  historian  of  the  Prussian  monarch.  Lord 
Dover  has  long  been  favourably  known  as  the  Hon.  Mr.  Ellis,  and 
his  Life  of  Frederick  has  much  enhanced  his  reputation.  It  is  hon- 
ourable to  him,  considering  the  irreligious  character  of  Frederick, 
that  he  has  nownere  rendered  vice  attractive,  and  that  his  pages  are 
•tudiously  guarded  Irom  the  slightest  contamination  of  infidelity. 


12  STANDARD    WORKS. 

SKETCHES  FROM  VENETIAN  HISTORY.    By  tfc* 

Rev.  E.  SMEDLEY.     In  2  vols.  18mo.     With  Engravings. 

Few  have  the  knowledge,  the  time,  or  the  means  to  explore  for 
themselves  the  treasures  of  the  Italian  chronicles.  The  author  of 
this  work  has  laid  open  their  stores  for  the  benefit  of  those  to  whom 
the  language  in  which  they  are  written  renders  them  a  sealed  book- 
gleaning  from  them  the  most  characteristic  incidents,  amusing  sto- 
ries, and  anecdotes,  while,  at  the  same  time,  he  has  sustained  all 
the  dignity  of  historical  research;  passing  lightly  over  events  of 
jninor  importance,  and  reserving  himself  for  those  momentous  and 
interesting  transactions  which  require  to  be  more  fully  displayed. 
The  beauty  of  the  style  has  been  very  generally  noticed,  and  has 
gained  the  applause  of  the  most  competent  judges. 

INDIAN  BIOGRAPHY;  OR  AN  HISTORICAL  AC- 
COUNT  OF  THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  NATIVE 
ORATORS,  WARRIORS,  STATESMEN,  &c.  By  B.  B. 
THATCHER,  Esq.  In  2  vols.  18mo.  With  Engravings. 

The  extensive  popularity  of  these  Biographies  is  one  of  the 
strongest  evidences  of  their  merit :  within  a  very  few  months  after 
the  publication  a  large  edition  was  disposed  of,  and  the  work  was  at 
once  established  as  a  standard.  Until  its  appearance  there  was  no 
authentic  or  satisfactory  account  of  the  Indians :  notices  of  a  few  of 
the  most  distinguished  among  them  in  earlier  times  were  to  be  found 
scattered  through  the  pages  of  various  historical  works,  but  the  num- 
ber was  very  limited,  and  it  might  be  said  that  all  knowledge  of  their 
true  character,  and  of  the  traits  for  which  they  were  remarkable,  was 
locked  up  in  manuscripts  or  in  obsolete  publications.  The  writer 
of  these  volumes  has,  with  great  industry  and  perseverance,  explored 
those  almost  unknown  stores  of  information,  and  produced  a  work 
of  the  highest  character  for  candour,  extent,  and  accuracy.  It  has 
been  truly  said,  that  until  Mr.  Thatcher  took  upon  himself  the  office 
of  their  historian,  full  justice  had  never  been  done  to  the  character 
and  actions  of  the  aborigines. 

HISTORICAL  AND  DESCRIPTIVE  ACCOUNT  OF 
BRITISH  INDIA;  from  the  most  remote  Period  to  the 
present  Time.  By  several  eminent  Authors.  In  3  vols. 
18mo.  With  a  Map  and  Engravings. 

A  histoiy  of  India  in  a  convenient  form,  and  in  an  easy  and  fami- 
liar style,  has  long  been  considered  a  desideratum.  This  work  com- 
mences with  the  early  annals  of  the  Hindoos,  traces  the  progress  and 
decline  of  the  Mohammedan  power,  and  brings  the  history  of  the 
British  dominion  in  India  down  to  the  time  of  the  permanent  estab- 
lishment of  the  India  Company  and  the  foundation  of  that  stupendous 
empire.  It  is  divided  into  departments  comprising  the  history,  litera- 
ture, arts,  and  manners  of  the  Hindoos,  and  a  description  of  the 
country,  its  climate,  soil,  diseases,  productions,  and  natural  features: 
these  departments  have  been  committed  to  distinct  writers  of  erni 
nence,  and  fully  qualified  to  treat  of  them  with  distinguished  ability, 
and  the  result  has  been  the  production  of  a  body  of  accurate  ana 
complete  information,  such  as  is  not  to  be  found  collected  in  anj 
other  work  in  the  English,  or,  indeed,  in  any  language. 


STANDARD   WORKS.  13 

LETTERS  ON  NATURAL  MAGIC.  By  Sir  DAVID 
BREWSTER,  LLD.,  F.R.S.  18mo.  With  numerous  Engra- 
vings. 

The  author  of  this  volume  passes  under  review  the  principal  phe- 
nomena of  nature,  and  the  leading  contrivances  of  art  which  bear  the 
impress  of  a  supernatural  character,  and  more  especially  those  sin- 
irular  illusions  of  sense  in  which  the  most  perfect  organs  fail  to  per- 
form their  functions,  or  perform  them  unfaithfully.  These  are  themes 
full  of  interest,  and  worthy  of  the  labour  bestowed  upon  them  by  the 
philosophic  writer. 

The  eye  and  ear  are,  of  course,  the  chief  organs  of  deception,  and, 
accordingly,  optical  illusions  occupy  a  considerable  portion  of  the 
volume.  Those  depending  on  the  ear  succeed,  and,  alter  these  have 
been  described  ana  explained,  we  are  entertained  with  amusing 
accounts  of  feats  of  strength,  of  mechanical  automata,  and  of  some 
of  the  more  popular  wonders  of  chymistry.  Under  each  of  these  di- 
visions anecdotes  of  the  most  interesting  kind  illustrate  the  author's 
explanations,  and  no  subject  in  iUelf  grave  and  important  was  ever 
treated  in  a  more  captivating  manner. 

HISTORY  OF  IRELAND.     By  W.  C.  TATLOR,  Esq. 

With  Additions.     By  WILLIAM  SAMPSON,  Esq.     In  2  vole. 

18mo.     With  Plates. 

Before  its  republication,  this  work  was  submitted  for  examination 
to  several  gentlemen  resident  in  New- York,  natives,  or  the  descend' 
ants  of  natives,  of  the  country  whose  history  it  contains,  and  distin- 
guished for  their  attachment  to  the  unhappy  land  to  which  they 
trace  their  origin,  and  for  their  talents  and  "acquirements.  Their 
opinion  was  unanimous,  and  highly  favourable,  and  each  of  them  ex- 
pressed in  stron?  terms  the  ploasure  it  would  afford  him  to  aee 
republished  in  the  United  States  a  work  so  fair,  so  copious, 
and  so  accurate.  The  public  at  large  has  confirmed  their  sentence, 
and  stamped  this  history  with  the  seal  of  approbation.  The  value 
of  the  history  as  originally  published  has  been  greatly  enhanced  by 
the  additions  of  William  Sampson,  Esq.,  whose  reputation  is  too  weu 
known  in  the  country  of  his  adoption  to  require  eulogy. 

HISTORICAL  VIEW  OF  THE  PROGRESS  OF  DIS- 
COVERY ON  THE  MORE  NORTHERN  COASTS  OF 
NORTH  AMERICA.     By  P.  F.  TYTLER,  Esq.,  and  Prof. 
WILSON.     18mo.     With  &  Map  and  Engravings. 
Among  the  most  remarkable  occurrences  of  the  nineteenth  century 
are  the  various  expeditions  of  discovery  to  the  northern  coasts  of  the 
western  continent,  so  important,  although  not  perfectly  satisfac  tory 
in  their  results.     In  no  other  portion  of  the  earth's  surface  has  -the 
navigator  to  contend  with  such  formidable  difficulties,  and  in  none 
does  hr,  behold  so  peculiar  an  aspect  of  nature :  it  follows,  therefore, 
of  course,  that  e  xpeditions  to  no  other  part  of  the  world  furnish  to 
the  historian  such  ample  and  interesting  materials.    The  present 
volume  exhibits  a  full  and  accurate  view  of  all  that  is  important  in 


14  STANDARD    WORKS. 

TRAVELS  AND  RESEARCHES  OF  BARON  HUM 
BOLDT.      By  W.  MACGILLIVRAY.      18mo.     Engraving 

The  celebrity  enjoyed  by  Baron  Humboldt,  earned  by  a  Iife  ot 
laborious  investigation  and  perilous  enterprise,  and  by  the  most  oz 
tensive  contributions  to  science,  renders  his  name  familiar  to  everj 
person  whose  attention  has  been  drawn  to  statistics  or  natural  philo 
Sophy  ;  and  his  works  are  ranked  among  the  very  first  for  the  splen- 
did pictures  of  scenery  which  they  contain,  the  diversified  informa- 
tion which  they  afford  respecting  objects  of  universal  interest,  and 
the  graceful  attractions  with  which  he  has  invested  the  majesty  of 
science.  The  present  volume  contains  an  abridged  account  of  all 
the  travels  and  researches  of  this  eminent  observer  of  nature,  in 
which  nothing  is  omitted  that  can  be  either  interesting  or  useful  to 
the  general  reader,  while  the  several  narratives  are  sufficiently  con- 
densed to  bring  them  within  the  compass  of  a  convenient  volume. 

LETTERS  OF  EULER  ON  NATURAL  PHILOSOPHY; 

WITH  NOTES  AND  A  LIFE  OF  EULER.  By  Sir 
DAVID  BREWSTER,  LL.D.,  F.R.S.  With  additional  Notes. 
By  J.  GRISCOM,  LL.D.  In  2  vols.  18mo.  With  Engravings. 

Of  all  the  treatises  on  Natural  Philosophy  that  have  been  pub- 
lished in  the  various  languages  of  Europe  there  is  none  that  has  en- 
joyed a  more  extensive  and  permanent  celebrity  than  that  of  the 
famous  mathematician  and  philosopher  Leonard  Euler,  contained  in 
his  letters  to  the  Princess  of  Anlmlt.  They  have  been  translated 
into  several  tongues,  and  edition  after  edition  has  been  published  in 
Europe  with  still  increasing  reputation.  The  most  eminent  savans 
Of  England  and  France  have  repeatedly  borne  testimony  to  their  ex- 
cellence, not  only  by  the  strongest  expressions  of  approbation,  but  by 
assuming  the  task  of  editing  the  work  :  the  latest  who  has  bestowed 
this  mark  of  commendation  was  Sir  David  Brewster,  from  whose 
edition  this  now  published  was  printed.  The  notes  added  by  him 
are  copious  and  valuable ;  and  the  publishers  of  the  American 
edition,  still  more  to  enhance  f,he  merit  of  the  work,  have  secured 
the  assistance  of  Professor  Griscom,  whose  notes  will  be  found 
numerous  and  of  great  utility. 

A  POPULAR  GUIDE  TO  THE  OBSERVATION  OF 

NATURE.     By  ROBERT  MQDIE.    With  Engravings.     18mo. 

The  author  is  an  ardent  lover  of  nature,  and  a  close  observer  of  the 
works  of  the  Creator,  and  his  aim  has  been  to  awaken  in  his  readers  8 
spirit  kindred  to  his  own,  and  to  point  out  to  the  student  the  trut 
path  of  inquiry  ;  that  which  alone  can  lead  to  the  just  perception  and 
full .  enjoyment  of  the  innumerable  charms  that  lie  scattered  si» 
lavishly  around  us  in  every  form  of  animate  and  inanimate  existence 
In  the  accomplishment  of  his  undertaking  he  has  produced  a  work 
not  more  remarkable  for  itc.  originality  and  for  ftn  extent  and  accu- 
racy of  the  information  it  conveys,  than  for  the  novelty  of  its  views. 
the  infinite  variety  and  wisdom  of  its  reflections,  and  the  smgulai 
interest  with  which  it  fills  the  mind  of  the  delighted  reader.  To 
the  tyro  this  guide  is  of  incalculable  value,  and  even  to  the  accom- 
plished scholar,  it  recommends  itself  by  the  new  and  striking  features 
with  which  it  invests  the  exhaustless  suh.iert.  of  which  it  treats. 


VALUABLE    WORKS 

PUBLISHED  BY  J.  &  J.  HARPER,  82  CLIFF-STREET, 
NEW-YORK. 


THE  HISTORY  OF  MODERN  EUROPE,  from  the 

Pise  of  the  Modern  Kingdoms  to  ihe  present  Period.  By  WILLIAM  Ri  SHKI.I., 
LL.I).,  and  WILLIAM  JDMC>,  Esq.  With  .Annotations,  by  an  American.  IB 
3  vols.  8vo. 

THE  HISTORICAL  WORKS  OF  THE  REV.  WIL* 

LIAM  ROBERTSON,  D.D.;  comprising  his  HISTORY  OF  AMERICA; 
CHARLES  V. ;  SCOTLAND,  and  INDIA.  In  3  vols.  8vo.  With  Plates. 

GIBBON'S   HISTORY  OF  THE  DECLINE   AND 
FALL  OF  THE  ROMAN  EMPIRE,   in  4  vois.  8vo.   with  Maps  and  piates. 

ENGLISH  SYNONYMES,  with  copious  Illustrations 

and  Explanations,  drawn  from  the  best  Writers.  By  GKORGK  CKABBK,  M. A. 
8vo. 

LIFE  OF  LORD  BYRON.     By  THOMAS  MOORE,  Esq. 

In  2  vols.  o-vu.     With  a  Portrait. 

THE  BOOK  OF  NATURE ;   beimr  a  popular  Illug- 

tration  of  the  general  Laws  and  Phenomena  or  Creation,  &3  Bv  JOHN 
MASON  Goop,  M.I),  and  F.R  8.  8vo.  With  his  Lu*. 

HOOPER'S  MEDICAL  DICTIONARY.     From  in. 

last  London  Edition.    With  Additions,  by  SAMTKI.  AKKKI.T,  M.    . 

COOPER'S  SURGICAL  DICTIONARY.     In  2  vols. 

New  and  improved  Edition.    8vo. 

GOOD'S  (Da.  JOHN  MASON)  STUDY  OF  MEDICINE. 

in  j    ui«».  o.o.     A  new  Edition.     With  Additions,  bv  SAMUKL  COOPHK. 

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THE 

THEOLOGICAL  LIBRARY. 


THIS  PUBLICATION  WILL  BE  COMPRISED  IN  A  LIMITED  NUMBER  OF 

VOLUMES,  AND  IS  INTENDED  TO  FORM,  WHEN  COMPLETED, 

A  DIGESTED  SYSTEM  OF  RELIGIOUS  AND 

ECCLESIASTICAL  KNOWLEDGE. 

Now  Published. 

THE    LIFE    OF    WICLIF. 

BY   CHARLES   WEBB   LE   BAS,  M.A. 

Professor  in  the  East  India  College,  Herts  ;  and  late  Fellow  of  Trinity 
College,  Cambridge. 

THE  CONSISTENCY  OF  THE  WHOLE  SCHEME  OF  REVELA- 
TION WITH  ITSELF,  AND  WITH  HUMAN  REASON. 
BY  PHILIP  N.  SIUITTLKWORTH,  D.D. 
Warden  of  New  College,  Oxford. 

LUTHER  AND   THE   LUTHERAN  REFORMATION. 
By  Rev.  J.  SCOTT.    In  2  vols.    Portraits. 

THE    LIFE    OF    CRANMER. 

BY  CHARLES  W.  LE  BAS,  M.A ., 

Professor  in  the  East  India  College,  Herts ;  and  late  Fellow  of  Trinity 
College,  Cambridge. 

HISTORY  OF  THE  REFORMED  RELIGION  IN  FRANCS. 

BY  EDWARD  SMEDLEY,  M.A. 
Late  Fellow  of  Sidney  Sussex  College,  Cambridge. 


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